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The Fatal Breath

Covid-19 and Society in Britain

David Vincent author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Published:29th Sep '23

Should be back in stock very soon

The Fatal Breath cover

This book provides a detailed account of the Covid-19 pandemic in Britain, exploring its profound effects on society and individual lives.

The Fatal Breath is a comprehensive history of the Covid-19 pandemic in Britain, offering a deep dive into the experiences and challenges faced during this unprecedented time. Utilizing a rich archive of personal testimonies alongside extensive research reports and official data, it presents a poignant and thought-provoking account of the crisis that engulfed Britain and the world in the spring of 2020. This narrative not only recounts events but also captures the emotional weight of the pandemic's impact on individuals and communities.

David Vincent approaches the subject with sensitivity and a historian’s critical perspective. He contextualizes the pandemic within a broader historical framework, challenging the notion that people were entirely unprepared for the lockdown. Instead, he illustrates how the population drew upon a wealth of resources and coping strategies developed over centuries, often responding more swiftly and effectively than the authorities. The book highlights the stories of healthcare workers on the frontlines, the reality of supply shortages, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the resistance to vaccines, all while revealing a newfound appreciation for nature and community that emerged during lockdown.

The Fatal Breath is essential reading for anyone looking to reflect on the last few years and understand how the pandemic has reshaped Britain, highlighting both the challenges and the resilience displayed during this tumultuous period.

‘As a social historian specializing in working-class autobiography, David Vincent brings a unique and human perspective to the Covid pandemic crisis. Whilst not ignoring the politics, economics, and inequalities of the UK experience, he celebrates the brave and bold responses of men and women across the nation who faced isolation, despair, bereavement, and illness. This book is a tour de force, shocking and heartwarming, an historical analysis of a huge upheaval in British life.’
Anthony Costello, Professor of Global Health, University College London

‘Vincent provides the kind of rich and meticulous chronicle of social life under Covid-19 which is so urgently needed to make sense of the last few years. Bringing an historian’s sensibility to the recent past, The Fatal Breath will stand as an indispensable resource for readers far beyond our present moment.’
Fred Cooper, University of Exeter

‘With this book, the leading social historian David Vincent tackles the Covid pandemic, providing novel insights which will appeal to both academics and the general public.’
Barbara Taylor, Queen Mary University of London

‘This bold and forensic history of the pandemic, drawing on previously unpublished diaries, underlines the sheer scale of suffering, with the poor and isolated particularly badly hit.’
Mark Honigsbaum, The Observer

‘a readable and thoroughly researched account of different aspects of our societal response to the pandemic.’
Church Times

ISBN: 9781509551675

Dimensions: 231mm x 152mm x 33mm

Weight: 635g

336 pages