Although Western societies cannot escape from images of famine in the present world, their direct experience with widespread hunger has receded into the past. England was one of the very first countries to escape from the shadow of famine and in this volume, a team of distinguished economic, social, and demographic historians analyze why. The contributors combine detailed local studies of individual communities, broader analyses of the impact of hunger and disease, and methodological discussions that explore the effect of crisis mortality on early modern societies. The essays examine the complex interrelationships among past demographic, social, and economic structures, and demonstrate that the impact of hunger and disease can provide a unique vehicle for an exploration of early modern society.