Literary Meditations for Pandemic Times: Reflections on Plague Classics

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, new health techniques emerged, yet discussions on living well were scarce. While “social distancing” benefits the body, spiritual health relies on wisdom. In challenging times, we must turn to the past for guidance. This book, originally published as Plague Literature and now in its second edition, features philosopher Dustin Peone’s reflections on ten literary classics set during plague times. From each work, he extracts a central insight relevant to our current and future pandemics, offering lessons in prudence from the sages of history. It emphasizes pursuing a good life during a pandemic and explores the essence of flourishing in dark times, beyond mere survival. Critics praise the book for its systematic and historical perspective on contemporary challenges. Donald Phillip Verene, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Emory University, calls it a unique and timely work. Brian P. Quaranta from Duke University describes it as beautifully written in a clear and witty classical style. Rebecca U. Thorpe, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington, highlights its penetrating insights into human flourishing amid pandemic conditions, urging readers to understand not just survival, but how to live well in unsettling times.