Non-Fiction: An American Plague

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Murphy, Jim. 2003.AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793. New York City, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395776082

PLOT SUMMARY

In An American Plague, Jim Murphy expertly crafts the story of the Yellow Fever Outbreak in 1793 during the nation’s first years of infancy. Jim Murphy takes historical facts and combines them in a wonderfully researched narrative that allows students and adults to become mesmerized by the resulting events of the “plague”. The Yellow Fever outbreak was centered around the bustling city of Philadelphia, home to Benjamin Franklin. Jim Murphy tells this story though the use of first person narratives, documents, and maps that allow the reader to fully understand how this sickness took control of this city.

Jim Murphy starts his narrative by explaining how yellow fever caught a hold on the city with the infection of a young French soldier in a boarding house, further spreading through the crowded streets of Philadelphia infecting more and more people on its path of destruction.  Citizens are shown handling this sickness with varying degrees of confusion and fear as the plague tore through their city. Jim Murphy goes on to explain the level of panic that took hold of the city during this time. Refugees were often banned from other areas and police patrols prevented people from leaving the city. Treatments of the disease are also explored as doctor’s tried to find cures for the sick. One of the more interesting aspects of the story are the inclusion of the Free African Society in caring for the sick. It was believed that the freed Africans were partially immune to yellow fever and therefore were used as nurses and caretakers of the sick, although it was documented that Africans died at about the same rate as other members of the city. The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 is documented extremely well in Jim Murphy’s books. Readers will walk away with a wealth of Knowledge about the epidemic and a newfound respect for modern medicine and technology.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jim Murphy tells the story of the yellow fever epidemic through first person narratives. Each person’s account of what happened during this time is an eye opening experience. How citizens had to manage the fear and panic gripping the city and how these individuals came to terms with their loss is explored. Pictures and drawing are also used to immerse the reader in the crowded, narrow streets of Philadelphia. These pictures assist the reader in understanding just how this plague was able to spread so quickly and to so many people. Murphy also uses newspaper articles from the time as well as reproductions of black and white paintings to further immerse the reader in the world.

Jim Murphy also provides a wealth of sources at the end of the books for students to use for further study. There is a list of firsthand accounts, both medical and nonmedical, that Murphy used in his research. A bibliography of books related to Yellow Fever are provided as well as short summaries about each offering. He also provided information about other plagues that have occurred as well.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

KIRKUS REVIEW: "A mesmerizing, macabre account...powerful evocative prose... compelling subject matter...fascinating discussion...valuable lesson in reading and writing history. Stellar."
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: "Leisurely, lyrical tone...Murphy injects the events with immediacy...archival photographs...bring the story to life...comprehensive history."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories...extensive and interesting...you'll have students hooked on history."

BOOKLIST: "History, science, politics and public health come together in this dramatic account...brings the 'unshakeable unease' chillingly close."

THE HORN BOOK: "diverse voices...representative images...Everywhere, Murphy is attentive to telling detail...Thoroughly documented...the work is both rigorous and inviting."

CONNECTIONS
*invite students to check out other non-fiction listed in the sources section at the back of the book. *Students can also use this book to differentiate and study the differences between primary and secondary sources.

*Other non-fiction by Jim Murphy:
Murphy, Jim. BLIZZARD!: THE STORM THAT CHANGED AMERICA. ISBN 0590673106
Murphy, Jim. THE GREAT FIRE. ISBN 0439203074
Murphy, Jim. TRUCE. ISBN 0545130492