When the great plague descended on London in 1665, Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) was only five years old, yet his account of those events convinced readers for generations that it was based on his own observations and experiences. Instead, it was his genius as both a novelist and a journalist that makes this such a great book: a contribution to both our literature and our history. Defoe was not only able to research his subject thoroughly, but his skill as a novelist enabled him to select the most telling details and weave them into a convincing narrative.
This edition is illustrated with woodcuts by Peter Pendrey (1910-1980) and introduced by Kenneth Hopkins (1914-1988) -- one of our great overlooked poets and a brilliant literary historian.
This is an example of the second printing of 1993 and is in absolutely excellent condition, as is its protective slipcase.