Justinian's Flea New changes are annoying

[DDickey]

Justinian's Flea by William Rosen recently came out in paperback. In hardcover, the book's subtitle read: "Plague, Empire, and the Birth of Europe." In paperback, the subtitle has been changed, and now reads, "The First Great Plague and the End of the Roman Empire." On the back of the paperback, in bold, red letters, it reads, "How Nature's Smallest Organism Brought Down History's Mightiest Empire."

 

These changes, to me, seem stunningly misleading, and I'm certain a few readers ill versed in history are going to be greatly disappointed. But, I suppose, in this day and age sensationalism sells, and that's all that seems to matter anymore.

Edited September 4, 2008 by DDickey

[Northern Neil]

Justinian's Flea by William Rosen recently came out in paperback. In hardcover, the book's subtitle read: "Plague, Empire, and the Birth of Europe." In paperback, the subtitle has been changed, and now reads, "The First Great Plague and the End of the Roman Empire." On the back of the paperback, in bold, red letters, it reads, "How Nature's Smallest Organism Brought Down History's Mightiest Empire."

 

These changes, to me, seem stunningly misleading, and I'm certain a few readers ill versed in history are going to be greatly disappointed. But, I suppose, in this day and age sensationalism sells, and that's all that seems to matter anymore.

I see what you mean - several incorrect statements from an historical point of view, and at least one ( Viroids being the smallest organisms - many times smaller than a bacillus ) from a biological perspective.