Understanding the Great Plague of 1665

This chapter explores the historical context and societal responses to the Great Plague of 1665, emphasizing how people coped with the epidemic using insights from Samuel Pepys' diary. It examines the governmental measures implemented to manage the crisis and the variances in adherence to quarantine, reflecting on the tensions between central and local authorities. By drawing parallels to modern health crises, the chapter highlights the ongoing relevance of lessons learned from this significant epidemic in England.