Get Well Soon

By Jennifer Wright,

Book cover of Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them

Book description

In 1518, in a small town in France, Frau Troffea began dancing and didn't stop. She danced herself to her death six days later, and soon thirty-four more villagers joined her. Then more. In a month more than 400 people had died from the mysterious dancing plague. In late-nineteenth-century England…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Get Well Soon as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I never thought I’d describe a book about plagues as amusing and laughable, but Jennifer Wright found a way to write one. Thanks to this book, I now have a favorite plague–which is obviously the dancing plague.

I’ve re-read this book multiple times because it’s such lighthearted and fluent storytelling. I read it both before and after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At first, the discussion regarding plagues and people’s reactions to them seemed prophetic. But really, this book made me realize how much history repeats itself, even when it comes to infectious diseases.

Want books like Get Well Soon?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 66 books like Get Well Soon.

Browse books like Get Well Soon

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in epidemiology, contagious diseases, and epidemics?

Epidemiology 14 books
Epidemics 50 books