A Short History of Disease Plagues, Poxes and Civilisations

This second edition contains an afterword on COVID-19, looking at the origins and nature of the virus, and how governments across the globe dealt with the most serious public health emergency in a century.

A Short History of Disease chronicles the historical and geographical evolution of infectious and non-infectious diseases, from their prehistoric origins to the present. It offers a comprehensive guide to ailments and the medicines developed to combat them. Analyzing case studies - including the Black Death, Spanish Flu, cholera, leprosy, syphilis, cancer, and Ebola - Sean Martin maps the growth of our understanding of disease.

The book offers a fascinating insight into an important area of social history, providing an accessible introduction to disease and the ongoing quest to protect human health.

Sean Martin is a writer, poet and filmmaker. He has written books on The Knights Templar, Alchemy and Alchemists, The Gnostics, The Cathars, Andrei Tarkovsky and New Waves in Cinema. His films include Lanterna Magicka: Bill Douglas & the Secret History of Cinema ('a fine documentary' - The Guardian), and Folie à Deux. Sean Martin is a writer, poet, and filmmaker. He is the author of Alchemy and Alchemists, Andrei Tarkovsky, The Cathars, The Gnostics, The Knights Templar, and New Waves in Cinema. His films include Lanterna Magicka: Bill Douglas & the Secret History of Cinema and Folie à Deux.