The Great Pestilence (A.D. 1348-9), Now Commonly Known as the Black Death

The work opens by placing the 1348‑49 pestilence within the bright triumphs of Edward III’s reign—victories at Crécy and the capture of Calais that left England basking in a golden age of chivalry. Against this backdrop, the sudden onslaught of the Black Death is presented not merely as a tragic footnote, but as a force that shattered the optimism of the time and reshaped daily life across the realm.

Drawing on a wealth of contemporary chronicles, court records, and parish registers, the author weaves a narrative that reveals how the plague altered labour relations, strained the medieval economy, and provoked profound religious anxiety. Readers will discover how towns emptied, how the balance of power shifted between peasants and landlords, and how the catastrophe set the stage for lasting social change. This careful synthesis offers a comprehensive picture of an event that has often been relegated to brief mentions in broader histories.