Shlohavot, or, The burning of London in the year 1666

ID:

42.39/56

Production date:

1667

Location:

In Store

Samuel Rolle was one of several people who wrote books about the Great Fire of London. Much of the literature produced was religious and counselled Londoners to mend their sinful ways and cope with the disaster through prayer and their faith in God. Rolle's book also reveals some very interesting information about the fire, how people felt about it and its effect on Londoners: how some nearly died of fright, the losses that they suffered, how they got lost among the ruins and couldn't even recognise their own street. He voices his disgust at opportunists profiting from the fire - landlords in the unburned areas who raised their rents, carters who charged extortionate fees to carry away people's belongings and thieves who looted people's possessions.  < ...Read more

Samuel Rolle was one of several people who wrote books about the Great Fire of London. Much of the literature produced was religious and counselled Londoners to mend their sinful ways and cope with the disaster through prayer and their faith in God. Rolle's book also reveals some very interesting information about the fire, how people felt about it and its effect on Londoners: how some nearly died of fright, the losses that they suffered, how they got lost among the ruins and couldn't even recognise their own street. He voices his disgust at opportunists profiting from the fire - landlords in the unburned areas who raised their rents, carters who charged extortionate fees to carry away people's belongings and thieves who looted people's possessions.

The book also has a Hebrew title, "shalhevet'ya", which is a combination of 'God's Fire' or 'God's Flame'. Rolle was a church minister and probably knew classical Hebrew and added it to the title. There is a fold-out woodcut of the Great Fire inside the book, showing huge plumes of smoke above the City and many boats filled with escaping people's belongings on the river. < Hide

Measurements

H 173 mm; W 115 mm; T 30 mm (closed), W 290 mm (open with fold-out)

Materials

paper; ink

Last Updated

2024-03-26