Product Description
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. 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.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 31 reviews)

the american plague the terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 by Regina Fleming Burch (charlotte nc usa)

4 Stars
September 06, 2009
this book was kind of ok to me i rated it a 4 because it wasn't the best book I've read it could be better . It was kind of intresting when I found out how they got the name and who studied the disease and found some what of a cure and how many people died from this dreadful illness , I felt kind of sad because, I know that some of those people were my ancestors and they died because of this illness that they took many years to find a cure to it.thanks fo listening or reading my review. ttyl

Companion to Fever 1793 by J. Guild (OKC OK)

4 Stars
January 19, 2009
I had my students reading Fever 1793. I came across this book and bought it. It gave actual facts and more in-depth information. Several of my 8th graders read parts of it. I have several other Jim Murphy books. He is great for middle school.

8th grade homeschool review by solidyouth

4 Stars
December 05, 2008
I had to read this book in 8th grade and I think that this book is very informative about a tragic event that occurred many times through 1702-1821. This book describes everything that happened with Yellow fever including all sorts of organizations who tried to stop it and doctors who try to find cures. One doctor named Rush finds a cure, but it has major side effects that sometimes kill themselves. If you are learning about the colonel times I would definitely recommend this book.

A non-fiction book that reads like good fiction by bhr (Bryn Mawr, PA USA)

5 Stars
June 21, 2007
This is the story of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 that decimated Philadelphia. Most folks don't know much about this plague; I didn't til I had to research it for a class I'm taking (for a class I would teach). This book, written for young adults, is captivating. The illustrations are relevant and extremely interesting; the text flows and is full of foreshadowing and detail that are the hallmarks of good writing. It's short enough to finish in a timely manner, and has all sorts of "excerpt" quality passages that one could read to students. Although it would be best placed as a resource book in a classroom, I found it entirely readable as a book on its own. Though I got it for a class, it will stay on my shelf as a favorite. That's a rare accomplishment for non-fiction, in my world! (*)>

An American Plague - One Review by L. Matherson (Alabama)

4 Stars
March 17, 2007
I found this book to be very informative. Although aimed at grades 6-10, it would be a great read for any age. There is much about epidemics and medical practices that is not included in the typical history of our country, but they are important to the complete historical picture. Mr. Murphy has done a great job in relating a story in such a compact way. The only fault I find is that he did not include who history gives the most credit to in eradicating yellow fever and malaria - William Crawford Gorgas. Overall, this book would be a great addition to a classroom.

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

	Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (Author) During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out. Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the...
	The Great Fire by Jim Murphy (Author) "Vivid firsthand descriptions by persons who lived through the 1871 Chicago fire are woven into a gripping account... Absorbing and riveting reading." The Horn Book, starred review
	Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America by Jim Murphy (Author) Snow began falling over New York City on March 12, 1888. All around town, people struggled along slippery streets and sidewalks -- some seeking the warmth of their homes, some to get to work or to care for the less fortunate, and some to experience what they assumed would be the last little snowfall of one of the warmest winters on record. What no one realized was that in a very few hours, the wind and snow would bury the city in nearly 21 inches of snow and bring it to a ferocious standstill.
	Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman (Author) Phineas Gage was truly a man with a hole in his head. A railroad construction foreman, Phineas was blasting rock near Cavendish, Vermont, in 1848 when a thirteen-pound iron rod was shot through his brain. Miraculously, he survived another eleven years and became a textbook case in brain science. But he was forever changed by the accident, and what happened inside his brain will tell you a lot about how your brain works and what makes us who we are.
	Fever 1793 LitPlan Teacher Pack (CD) by Christina Stone (Author) Grades 4-8. Essentially a complete teacher's manual for the novel, this LitPlan Teacher Pack includes lesson plans and reproducible resource materials for Fever 1793. It includes: 22 Daily Lessons Short answer study questions Multiple choice quiz questions Vocabulary worksheets for each reading assignment 3 detailed writing assignments Individual and group activities Critical thinking discussion questions 5 unit tests (2 short answer, 2 multiple choice, 1 advanced) Evaluation...