John Aberth received his Ph.D. in Medieval History from the University of Cambridge, UK. He has published ten books--mostly focusing on the history of the Black Death and disease--and has taught for twenty years at various colleges and universities in Vermont, Nebraska, and New York.
"Aberth's book will be a useful guide for a new generation of students, born after AIDS cocktails made that disease more or less controllable in the mid-1990s and who are now grappling for the first time with what pandemics do to societies Whether upcoming generations adopt the ""silver linings"" optimism about pandemics Aberth espouses here remains to be seen. But Oxford University Press has served them well in providing this affordable and comprehensive volume. * Monica H. Green, Speculum * Aberth's clearly written book isâhighly recommended. * J.P. Byrne, emeritus, Belmont University, CHOICE * John Aberth is absolutely right that it is time for a new volume on this topic, and he seems to cover all the bases here. The prose is simultaneously expert and crystal-clear * a pleasure to read. Aberth moves easily from the historical to the scientific and back and forth between complex historiographical models in a way that even new undergraduates should be able to grasp. * I love Alberth's approach to history; he covers social aspects, cultural aspects, and critical interpretation. Aberth is very good at walking students through his thinking; they will really learn about historical argument construction and the use of source evidence by reading his book. * Michael Sizer, Maryland Institute College of Art *"