Daniel Defoe and Life Under Lockdown—in 1665
 

Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) has become a media darling recently. And it’s not for writing Robinson Crusoe, the first English novel, at age 59.

It’s for creating the first work of “faction,” that strange hybrid of fact and fiction, in A Journal of the Plague Year. His uncanny parallels to our 2020 coronavirus crisis, written three hundred years ago, have made for a curious bestseller.

According to The Telegraph, several of London’s most popular independent bookshops have run out of copies.

A Journal of the Plague Year purports to be an eyewitness account of London’s Great Plague of 1665. Its author is HF, a London saddler who shelters in place during the epidemic. Here are some of his observations:

The infection started in the East, possibly in China. It devastated Italy before it hit England’s stores. At first, no one in London paid attention.

"But it seems that the Government had a true account of it, and several councils were held about ways to prevent its coming over; but all was kept very private."

Nothing was done until it was too late. “And from the first week of June the infection spread in a dreadful manner.” Panic set in. Many Londoners fled the city.

It's hard to believe he's not writing in the 21st century!

Read more about how Daniel Defoe pioneered two literary forms after the age of 60 on the blog >>

Very Special Announcement!

Recently, Later Bloomer's 10th Anniversary whispered to me while the world was in lockdown and my beloved kitty Leto lost his battle with a rare disease.

For weeks, I argued with it about silly projects and more important things, but it was insistent. "You know, not every project needs to be a bestseller or even cutting-edge," it said. "Sometimes it's enough to create something inspiring and lovely." Which is all I've ever wanted to do. What about you?

So I've started creating a print "gift" book featuring the best of the blog plus inspiring quotes. It's titled The Later Bloomer Daily Companion: 365 Inspirations to Bloom in Your Own Time.

More info coming soon!

Warmly,


P.S. In complete transparency, I'm raising funds to produce The Later Bloomer Daily Companion through sponsorships and affiliate links, all from items I enjoy myself.

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