A Journal of the Plague Year Being Observations or Memorials of the Most Remarkable Occurrences, as Well Public as Private, Which Happened in London During the Last Great Visitation in 1665. Written by a Citizen Who Continued All the While in London

"A Journal of the Plague Year" by Daniel Defoe is a historical account written in the early 18th century that provides vivid observations of the events and societal responses to the Great Plague of London in 1665. The narrative is framed as the personal chronicle of a citizen who experiences the epidemic firsthand, depicting the ferocity of the disease, the reactions of the populace, and the overarching atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. At the start of the narrative, the author introduces the reader to the initial rumblings of the plague's return, beginning with rumors emanating from Holland in September 1664. Following the reporting of plague deaths in London, the sense of dread begins to grip the community as various parishes start to report an increase in burials. The narrative intricately chronicles the confusion and fears surrounding the plague, detailing both the government's attempts to manage the situation and the chaotic responses from the general populace, including self-preservation tactics, superstitions, and frantic attempts to escape the city, setting the stage for a detailed unfolding of the calamity that follows. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Daniel Defoe was an English novelist, journalist, merchant, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, which is claimed to be second only to the Bible in its number of translations. He has been seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson. Defoe wrote many political tracts, was often in trouble with the authorities, and spent a period in prison. Intellectuals and political leaders paid attention to his fresh ideas and sometimes consulted him.