King Death book - Illustrated survey of plague in England

In this review the reviewer assesses King Death as a compact, scholarly guide to living with plague in late-medieval and early modern England. Colin Platt's book is best for students and readers wanting a focused, illustrated survey that places the Black Death and later epidemics into social and demographic context. The single biggest reason to buy is that the book links social history, demography and medicine in a readable course-friendly format, making it especially useful for undergraduates and A-level students studying population decline and disease.

Key Features

• Illustrated survey: Clear images and illustrations support the narrative and help readers visualise living conditions and medical practice in the period.
• Course-friendly scope: The text is structured to suit undergraduate and sixth-form courses on medieval England, demography and medical history.
• Social and medical focus: The book emphasises how plague affected family life, towns and social structures rather than only recording mortality figures.
• Authoritative perspective: Colin Platt's previous work on medieval towns and social history informs a measured, scholarly approach.
• Concise synthesis: The survey brings together archaeology, social history and contemporary accounts into a single accessible volume.

Who It's For

King Death is aimed at students in undergraduate or sixth-form (A-level) courses who need a readable, illustrated introduction to the Black Death and its social consequences. Lecturers and course tutors will find it convenient as a compact recommended text because it links demography, medicine and everyday life in ways that fit course modules.

It is less suitable for readers seeking a full technical treatment of epidemiology or modern infectious disease science; specialists wanting detailed statistical models or forensic pathology will need more specialised monographs. Casual readers who prefer broad general surveys without academic grounding may also prefer a more popular-history narrative.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Accessible combination of social history and medical context useful for students.
• Illustrations help clarify living conditions and contemporary responses to plague.
• Concise structure makes it easy to assign chapters for coursework.

Cons

• Not a technical medical or epidemiological manual, so it lacks modern disease modelling and forensic detail.

Specifications

Our Verdict

King Death is a well-focused, illustrated survey that delivers strong value for students and tutors studying medieval plague and social change. Its readable synthesis of social history, demography and medical context makes it a practical course text, though specialists seeking deep epidemiological or forensic analysis should look to more technical works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for A-level study?
Yes, it is explicitly framed for sixth-form and undergraduate courses and covers topics central to A-level syllabuses on the Black Death.

Does the book include illustrations?
Yes, the survey is illustrated to help visualise period living conditions and responses to plague.

Is it a technical medical text?
No, it is a social and historical survey rather than a technical epidemiology or forensic manual.