by Jim Murphy
First published 2004
In 1793, Philadelphia served as the nation's capital and largest city in North America. That summer, yellow fever arrived with devastating force. Jim Murphy chronicles how this mysterious disease ravaged the city's population while doctors struggled to understand its origins or find effective treatments. The author draws from firsthand accounts to reveal how Philadelphia's free black community stepped forward as heroes in the fight against the epidemic. Meanwhile, President Washington faced a constitutional crisis when the outbreak forced him to abandon the city and leave behind crucial government documents. Murphy connects the medical catastrophe to the social and political upheavals of the era, showing how 18th-century medical practices proved inadequate against the unknown threat. The book traces the desperate search for causes and cures that would remain elusive for more than a century. This true story captures a city under siege by disease and the courage of those who refused to flee.
Genres: biography, non-fiction, history-of-medicine, disease, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-drama
Setting: Philadelphia, North America
Period: 1793
Audio CD