Memory of the illness

Inspired by historical novels, especially Daniel Defoe's Diary of the Year of the Plague (1772) and Albert Camus's The Plague (1947), and inspired by what COVID-19 has caused in the world, this book analyzes literary phenomena that form "meaningful coincidences" or meaningfulness, namely: the phenomenon of "parallel events" and "emotional synergy," which attempt to explain the similarity of events and human experiences during crises—such as those caused by epidemics and infectious invasions—even if the events are separated in time and place. And because Defoe's diaries and Camus's The Plague are considered among the most important literary works about epidemics, this book will approach and compare their content with what COVID-19 has caused in the world, proving that there are no coincidences in this universe! In our new millennium, we interact with the disasters of epidemics and pandemics just as our ancestors did, despite the vast time and distant paths that separate us.