The Great Comet of 1664
Poet involved
What happened
A magnificent and terrifying comet blazed across the night sky over London, England, capturing the anxious attention of both the royal court and the general populace. King Charles II and Queen Catherine watched it from Whitehall, while the public viewed it as a fiery warning of divine anger. This deep-seated fear was seemingly confirmed when London was struck back-to-back by the horrific Great Plague of London in 1665 and the catastrophic Great Fire of London in 1666.
Literary impact
This comet is famously immortalized in the personal diaries of Samuel Pepys and was later vividly described by Daniel Defoe in his 'A Journal of the Plague Year'. It also directly inspired John Dryden's epic poem 'Annus Mirabilis', which recast the comet and subsequent disasters into a narrative of national rebirth.
Source: Wikipedia
