The Rome Plague Diaries: A Writer and His City in the Pandemic

Matthew Kneale, who lived in Rome for 18 years, wrote an email to friends and acquaintances on the first morning of Rome's Covid-19 lockdown, describing where he was, what was happening, and what it felt like. He then began composing daily reports to comprehend the strange, troubling, and fascinating period, revealing the Romans through the intense prism of the coronavirus crisis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 03 March 2022
Publisher: Atlantic Books

On the first morning of Rome's COVID-19 lockdown, Matthew Kneale felt an urge to connect with friends and acquaintances and began writing an email, describing where he was, what was happening, and what it felt like. He was soon composing daily reports as he tried to comprehend a period of time when everyone's lives suddenly changed and Italy struggled against an epidemic that was so strange, so troubling, and so fascinating that he found it impossible to think about anything else.

Having lived in Rome for eighteen years, Matthew has grown to know the capital and its citizens well, and this collection of brilliant diary pieces connects what he has learned about the city with this extraordinary, anxious moment, revealing the Romans through the intense prism of the coronavirus crisis.

The first entry in Matthew's diary, dated March 11, 2020, captures the initial confusion and uncertainty that accompanied the lockdown. He describes how the city came to a standstill, with streets deserted and shops closed, and how people struggled to adapt to the new reality.

As the days passed, Matthew's diary entries became more introspective, as he grappled with the emotional toll of the pandemic. He reflects on the fear and anxiety that many people felt, as well as the sense of community and solidarity that emerged in response to the crisis.

Matthew also takes us on a tour of Rome's historic landmarks and neighborhoods, providing a glimpse into the city's rich cultural heritage and the daily lives of its residents. He describes the empty plazas and deserted museums, as well as the resilience and determination of the people who continue to live and work in the city.

One of the most striking aspects of Matthew's diary is his ability to capture the human spirit in the face of adversity. He writes about the kindness and generosity of strangers, as well as the strength and resilience of the people he knows and loves.

Matthew's diary also provides a window into the political and economic challenges that Italy faced during the pandemic. He discusses the government's response to the crisis, as well as the economic impact on businesses and individuals.

Overall, Matthew's diary is a powerful and moving account of a period of unprecedented uncertainty and adversity. It provides a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people caught up in a global crisis, and into the resilience and determination of the people who continue to live and work in the face of adversity.

Introduction:
Matthew Kneale's diary is a collection of brilliant pieces that connect what he has learned about Rome with the extraordinary, anxious moment of the coronavirus crisis. Having lived in Rome for eighteen years, Matthew has grown to know the capital and its citizens well, and this collection of diary pieces reveals the Romans through the intense prism of the pandemic.

The First Entry:
The first entry in Matthew's diary, dated March 11, 2020, captures the initial confusion and uncertainty that accompanied the lockdown. He describes how the city came to a standstill, with streets deserted and shops closed, and how people struggled to adapt to the new reality.

Introspection and Emotional Toll:
As the days passed, Matthew's diary entries became more introspective, as he grappled with the emotional toll of the pandemic. He reflects on the fear and anxiety that many people felt, as well as the sense of community and solidarity that emerged in response to the crisis.

Tour of Rome:
Matthew also takes us on a tour of Rome's historic landmarks and neighborhoods, providing a glimpse into the city's rich cultural heritage and the daily lives of its residents. He describes the empty plazas and deserted museums, as well as the resilience and determination of the people who continue to live and work in the city.

Human Spirit in Adversity:
One of the most striking aspects of Matthew's diary is his ability to capture the human spirit in the face of adversity. He writes about the kindness and generosity of strangers, as well as the strength and resilience of the people he knows and loves.

Political and Economic Challenges:
Matthew's diary also provides a window into the political and economic challenges that Italy faced during the pandemic. He discusses the government's response to the crisis, as well as the economic impact on businesses and individuals.

Conclusion:
Overall, Matthew's diary is a powerful and moving account of a period of unprecedented uncertainty and adversity. It provides a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people caught up in a global crisis, and into the resilience and determination of the people who continue to live and work in the face of adversity.

Weight: 286g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838953034
Edition number: Main