A strange case of a plague (mental) disturbing Strasbourg in 1518. This was an easy read and fun too, if strange suffering and compelling dance can be fun.
Life sucked for the peasants in 1518. They were being oppressed on all sides and the only comfort they could have was through the occasional revel. And then St. Vitus, the dancing saint, was introduced to Strasbourg. And his saint-cult was the suggestion that started the dancing plague, which was an uncontrollable urge to dance until either the person died, and hundreds died, or the person eventually recovered.
Disgusting details: The dancers would dance until their feet were bloody and then would continue to dance. Many dancers, because they could not stop, relieved themselves while dancing. So they were covered in urine and feces and kept going. Apparently many of the dancers would scream out in agony as they danced, and yet could not stop. Others would tear leg muscles and still keep dancing. This is a terrible affliction, and the writer concludes that it was a mental condition created through extreme stress and unhappiness.
I enjoyed reading about something I had no idea even existed.
Holy Hell! Sorry for those peasants, but what a cool book!
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