A TIME TO DANCE, A TIME TO DIE: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE DANCING PLAGUE OF 1518

Book ID/图书代码： 12844008B23728

English Summary/英文概要： This is the true story of a wild dancing epidemic that brought death and fear to a 16th-century city, and the terrifying supernatural beliefs from which it arose.In July 1518 a terrifying and mysterious plague struck the medieval city of Strasbourg. Hundreds of men and women danced wildly, day after day, in the punishing summer heat. They did not want to dance, but could not stop. Throughout August and early September more and more were seized by the same terrible compulsion.By the time the epidemic subsided, heat and exhaustion had claimed an unfold number of lives, leaving thousands bewildered and bereaved, and an enduring enigma for future generations.Drawing on fresh evidence, John Waller’s account of the bizarre events of 1518 explains why Strasbourg’s dancing plague took place. In doing so it leads us into a largely vanished world, evoking the sights, sounds, aromas, diseases and hardships, the fervent supernaturalism, and the desperate hedonism of the late medieval world.At the same time, the extraordinary story this book tells offers rich insights into how people behave when driven beyond the limits of endurance.
Above all, this is an exploration into the strangest capabilities of the human mind and the extremes to which fear and irrationality can lead us.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 这是关于一场疯狂的跳舞传染病的真实故事。这场舞蹈瘟疫给一个16世纪的城市带来了死亡和恐惧，一系列对超自然力量的令人毛骨悚然的信仰也由此产生。1518年的7月，炎夏酷热难当，成百上千的男男女女忽然夜以继日地疯狂舞蹈。他们不想跳舞，但却无法停止。整个八月和九月上旬，越来越多的人被这种恐怖的冲动控制。等到这场传染病平息的时候，热浪和疲倦已经夺取了很多人的生命，还有成千上万的人处于迷惑和失去亲人的痛苦之中。他们的后代也被迫生活在难解的谜团之中。约翰·沃勒收集了第一手的资料，为你讲述1518年这些诡异事件，解释斯特拉斯堡发生跳舞瘟疫的原因。这本书带领我们进入一个已经消失的世界，让我们重回那段历史，让我们亲眼目睹，耳闻，感受当时的艰难和狂热的超自然主义以及中世纪令人绝望的享乐主义。同时，本书讲述的故事从广泛的视角，深入分析人们在忍耐力超越极限是会有什么样的的行为举止。总之，这是对人类思维最奇怪的特性的探索，是对恐惧和非理性能将我们引入怎样的极端的拷问。(zyt)

Awards/获奖情况："’A compelling history of workhouse children in the industrial revolution’---Guardian
’Waller writes with passion and flair which commands the reader’s attention.’---Times Literary Supplement
’History approaching its best... combines a gripping story with a historian’s attention to detail and context.’ ---The Australian"
“关于工业革命中贫民习艺所幼童的故事，足以调动你的胃口。”——《卫报》
“沃勒极具写作天赋，他的作品充满激情，值得读者关注。”——《泰晤士文学增刊》
“历史正走向它的最佳时刻...本书以一个历史学家的眼光，将扣人心弦的故事放在历史的大背景下细细讲述。”——《澳大利亚人》

About the Author/作者介绍： John Waller is a historian of medicine at Michigan State University. Educated at the universities of Oxford and London, he is the author of several other books, including The Real Oliver Twist (Icon, 2005), The Discovery of the Germ (2002) and Fabulous Science (OUP, 2002). He lives with his wife and daughter in Michigan.
约翰·沃勒是密歇根州立大学的医药历史学家。他在牛津大学和伦敦大学接受的高等教育。他还出过其他基本书，包括《真正的奥利弗退斯特》（《偶像》，2005），《微生物的发现》（2002），《神奇的科学》（牛津大学出版社，2002）。他现和他的妻子和女儿住在密歇根。

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