What are the motifs in A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman?

Mortality is a recurring idea in the story. The lives of those in the Fourteenth Century are filled with heartache as the Black Death sweeps the country, claiming the lives of thousands. The commoners of the day are typically susceptible to disease because of poor diet and living conditions combined with hard work. However, when the Black Death arrives, the rich are not spared either. With the recurrence of the plague at least two more times over the coming years, there is little doubt that people begin to see death as an every-day occurrence.