School of Journalism and Mass Communications alumni Thomas Fensch (M.A., 1967) has recently published a new book. The book, Chronicles from Past Plague Years begins with the Bubonic Plague that hit London in 1665-1666 and continues with the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919; AIDS, Ebola and COVID-19. The book also contains the complete text of Journal of a Plague Year, by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1722.  

Fensch is previously known for his book Steinbeck and Covici: The Story of a Friendship, about the relationship between novelist John Steinbeck and his editor-publisher, Pascal Covici. The book is considered widely influential in Steinbeck scholarship and has been printed since 1979 when it was first published.  

Fensch has also written four other books on Steinbeck, two on Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, two on James Thurber and a variety of other nonfiction titles. Fensch’s books are available from Amazon and elsewhere in hardcover, paperback, and e-book editions.