American Plague
American Plague
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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.
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 |