American Plague by Jim Murphy

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American Plague by Jim Murphy

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American Plague by Jim Murphy

1793, Philadelphia. The nation's capital and the largest city in North America is devastated by an apparently incurable disease, cause unknown . . .

In a powerful, dramatic narrative, critically acclaimed author Jim Murphy describes the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the city's residents, relating the epidemic to the major social and political events of the day and to 18th-century medical beliefs and practices. Drawing on first-hand accounts, Murphy spotlights the heroic role of Philadelphia's free blacks in combating the disease, and the Constitutional crisis that President Washington faced when he was forced to leave the city--and all his papers--while escaping the deadly contagion. The search for the fever's causes and cure, not found for more than a century afterward, provides a suspenseful counterpoint to this riveting true story of a city under siege.

An American Plague's numerous awards include a Sibert Medal, a Newbery Honor, and designation as a National Book Award Finalist. Thoroughly researched, generously illustrated with fascinating archival prints, and unflinching in its discussion of medical details, this book offers a glimpse into the conditions of American cities at the time of our nation's birth while drawing timely parallels to modern-day epidemics. Bibliography, map, index.

Jim Murphy is the celebrated author of more than thirty-five books for young readers, most notably TRUCE: THE DAY THE SOLDIERS STOPPED FIGHTING and THE GREAT FIRE, a Newbery Honor Winner. His carefully researched, engaging, and elegantly written nonfiction has garnered the most prestigious awards in the field. He lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, with his wife and their two sons.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780395776087
ISBN 10 0395776082
Title American Plague
Author Jim Murphy
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher Houghton Mifflin
Year published 2003-06-23
Number of pages 176
Prizes Winner of Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Nonfiction) 2004, Winner of Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award (Children's Book) 2004, Winner of James Madison Book 2004, Winner of Orbis Pictus Award 2004, Commended for Newbery Medal (Children's) 2004, Commended for National Book Awards (Young People's Lit.) 2003, Short-listed for Young Hoosier Book Award (Middle Grades) 2007, Short-listed for Volunteer State Book Awards (Young Adult) 2005
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note Unavailable