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In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made Audiobook, by Norman F. Cantor Play Audiobook Sample

In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made Audiobook

In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made Audiobook, by Norman F. Cantor Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: John McDonough Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.33 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.25 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: September 2003 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781440781483

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

13

Longest Chapter Length:

47:54 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

01:54 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

30:04 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

5

Other Audiobooks Written by Norman F. Cantor: > View All...

Publisher Description

In this New York Times best-seller, Norman F. Cantor digs through the medical evidence and concludes that the Black Death of the 14th century was probably two diseases at once: bubonic plague and anthrax. He shows how these diseases affected the masses as well as individuals, and thus altered history. Concise, informative, and touched with dark humor, this book is a startlingly fresh view of a frightening epidemic.

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"I love Cantor's writing style - very matter-of-fact without succumbing to a text-book boringness of the sort that cause readers to lose interest in even favourite subjects after a few pages. He's a very engaging and impeccably well-reserached author. "

— Ashley (5 out of 5 stars)

In the Wake of the Plague Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.903225806451613 out of 52.903225806451613 out of 52.903225806451613 out of 52.903225806451613 out of 52.903225806451613 out of 5 (2.90)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 7
3 Stars: 12
2 Stars: 6
1 Stars: 4
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " oh my gosh. had to read this for school. it's really just this old guy raving on about the 14th century and all these things that were slightly affected by the plague. and in every paragraph he uses like 10 words I don't know, probably to sound smart. ughhh "

    — Julia, 2/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Fascinating. Maybe it was anthrax afterall. "

    — Rebecca, 1/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A bit dry, but interesting if you can get through the sloggy bits. "

    — Allison, 1/1/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " There is a lot of information, and sometimes it overwhelms the structure. Lots of tangents. "

    — Pancha, 12/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I absolutely hated this book. Of course this could be due to the fact that I was required to read it as a a summer assignment for school. If you were obsessed with the Black Plague then maybe, MAYBE, you'd enjoy this book but anyone other than a Plague fanatic needs to stay away as if this book was the Plague. "

    — Gray, 12/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent in details that you won't find anywhere about this disease and the effects it had on society. "

    — Amee, 12/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It feels like this author made notes on index cards, shuffled them, and published a book. There is no real logic to the organization of facts. And although some of what he writes has something to do with the plague and its aftermath, much of it seems like random conversation about the Middle Ages. "

    — Deborah, 12/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A quick read and somewhat forgettable, but it does give a basic understanding of what life was like during the plague. Sadly, the title is a bit misleading, as it really doesn't go very in depth into what happened after. "

    — Josh, 12/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " He tends to use blatantly biased and harsh language in describing historical figures. I'm all for vivid description, but name calling and snide asides have no place in a history book. However, it is simultaneously informative and entertaining... A decent quick read. "

    — Elizabeth, 11/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Too heavy; too many tangents "

    — Candie, 10/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I would prefer 2 & 1/2 stars. A fascinating subject but the writing style was dry and disorganized. Also, repetitious. The sentences were long and complex. Also I do think I got something from the read. "

    — Gaynel, 10/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Something about the way this book was written and put together meant it couldn't hold my interest...odd as the concept was extremely interesting to me...but I couldn't get beyond page 100 or so...just kind of gave up. "

    — Jennifer, 3/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Interesting for the non-medievalist, such as myself. Not overpowered with complicated historiography but approachable. "

    — Jamie, 2/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a very interesting history of the black plague in Europe. I picked it up in an airport to read on the plane. I found it fascinating and educational. I strongly recommend this book especially if you like history books. "

    — David, 12/6/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I know it sounds morbid but its actually a fascinating study of the economic, political and sociological impact of the plague and even questions its origins as possibly being animal borne anthrax. "

    — Marcleitson, 9/30/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A competent retelling of the history of the Plague, but with less of the linkage to medical context or contemporary consequences than promised. "

    — Frank, 7/3/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A very interesting read! I'm generally not into reading non-fiction books, as they're often pretty dry, but this kept my attention well. "

    — Caroline, 2/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Yish, barely scratches the surface and horribly edited. "

    — Mary, 12/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The first 3rd or so of the book was interesting and engrossing. The rest was a good history book for a college course. "

    — Paige, 12/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An engaging and fun read with hidden depths of analysis. "

    — Cynmo, 12/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Another well written book by this NYU Professor. "

    — Dave, 6/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " pretty technical, yet interesting to see how it changed that part of the world. when the working class was decimated in some instances by 1/2, the peasants had alot more political and economic clout "

    — Linda, 4/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I know it sounds morbid but its actually a fascinating study of the economic, political and sociological impact of the plague and even questions its origins as possibly being animal borne anthrax. "

    — Marcleitson, 3/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The topic is of great interest to me. The 200 page length of this book was especially appealing.<br/><br/>Norman, unfortunately, is very wordy and not on point. "

    — Karmen, 2/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The most significant event in Europe after the Crusades. "

    — Larry, 1/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " cool book - lots of helpful history "

    — Frederick, 12/20/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " fascinating information, interesting facts and entertaining reading. "

    — Wanda, 12/13/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Meh. This guy cannot write prose for shit but it's an interesting topic. There's some interesting stuff in here but a ton of inane filler. "

    — Matthew, 12/13/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read in one sitting while substitute teaching last month - high school chemistry and physics. Found the book on the teacher's desk. "

    — Mauri, 11/3/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Something about the way this book was written and put together meant it couldn't hold my interest...odd as the concept was extremely interesting to me...but I couldn't get beyond page 100 or so...just kind of gave up. "

    — Jennifer, 10/3/2010
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Badly written, unorganized, unsupported assertions. I couldn't finish this book. "

    — Joann, 9/5/2010

About Norman F. Cantor

Norman F. Cantor (1929–2004) was emeritus professor of history, sociology, and comparative literature at New York University. His academic honors included appointments as a Rhodes Scholar, Porter Ogden Jacobus Fellow at Princeton University, and Fulbright professor at Tel Aviv University. His earlier books include Inventing the Middle Ages, nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award, and The Civilization of the Middle Ages, one of the most widely read narratives of the Middle Ages in the English language.

About John McDonough

John McDonough, one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices, has narrated dozens of audiobooks, and won eleven Earphones Awards. He is known for his narrations of children’s books, including Robert McCloskey’s Centerburg Tales and Albert Marrin’s Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Outside of his audiobook work, he has starred in a revival of Captain Kangaroo on the Fox Network.