Welcome to a Very Short Introduction soapbox. A short talk lasting 15 minutes from an expert in the field. The talk is free and takes place in the Blackwell book tent.

Paul Slack explores the historical impact of the plague over the centuries, looking at the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature. The emeritus professor of early modern history at the University of Oxford examines what plague meant for those who suffered from it, and how governments began to fight against it. He demonstrates the impact plague has had on modern notions of public health and how it has shaped our history.

Sponsored by Oxford University Press