The Great Plague, which hit London in 1665 and killed an estimated 100,000 citizens, one-fourth of the city's population, was followed a year later by the Great Fire, which burned the City of London and destroyed approximately 70,000 of the city's 80,000 homes. Fortunately, the fire also killed many of the rats that were spreading the plague. The Bubonic Plague was truly ghastly and is also referred to as the Black Death or Black Plague because, among many hideous ailments, it turned patches of skin black. Walter Besant (1836-1901), a prolific writer of 47 works of fiction and 41 nonfiction titles, thoroughly researched both events and primarily drew from first-hand reports in writing his compelling, detailed account. ......... Watersgreen House is an independent international book publisher with editorial staff in the UK and USA. One of our aims at Watersgreen House is to showcase same-sex affection in works by important gay and bisexual authors in ways which were not possible at the time the books were originally published. We also publish nonfiction, including textbooks, as well as contemporary fiction that is literary, unusual, and provocative. watersgreen.wixsite.com/watersgreenhouse