Murphy, Jim. 2003. AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-395-77608-2.
Summary: An American Plague chronicles the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. The book traces the progression of the epidemic from a handful of cases in August through the height of the occurrence in September to January, 1794, when the disease virtually disappeared. Along the way, the reader is introduced to George Washington, Benjamin Rush, and Absalom Jones as well as less well-known participants such as Richard Denny, Mathew Carey, and Elizabeth Drinker.
Using journal entries, letters, contemporary newspaper accounts, and even committee minutes, Murphy effectively draws the reader into the crisis in the first few pages. Reading almost like a novel (without dialogue), the author takes a very complex subject and makes it both engaging and comprehensible.
Murphy goes beyond a chronological account of the tragedy by outlining the social, political, and economic impact of the epidemic. Tensions between the rich and poor, Federalists and Jeffersonians, and especially whites and blacks are exposed by the crisis, and Murphy clearly draws a correlation between what is happening in the city and long-term changes in how the Federal Government works, race relations, demographic shifts, and sanitation practices.
He concludes the book with an overview of yellow fever epidemics post 1793, the discovery of the role played by the mosquito, and even warns of the future implications should the disease reemerge in modern-day America. The inclusion of maps, newspaper facsimiles, and even a cartoon helps the reader comprehend the event and feel not only sympathy but empathy for the real-life players in this significant historic event. This is a riveting and easy-to-understand account of a very tragic calamity in American History.
Analysis: Citing numerous primary and secondary sources, the accuracy of this book is superb. The use of letters, journals, demographic data, and medical treatises lets the reader know that Murphy, while not a medical doctor or scientist, has meticulously researched the topic. That knowledge, that authority, allows the reader to know that what they are reading is as accurate as possible, thus making the experience even more enjoyable. Reading something while feeling doubt or skepticism is not a pleasant experience and with this book, the veracity of the information is irrefutable. Murphy’s exhaustive research pays off.
The book is organized chronologically but also is subdivided into categories such as economic impact, racial tension, and demographic change. Verbal access features such as a table of contents, index, and an extensive sources section makes this an excellent book for student research. The visual access features such as maps, photographs and drawings, and newspaper facsimiles enrich the book and help the reader anchor themselves in time and space while providing a glimpse into life in the 18th Century. The writing is engaging and shows not only a firm understanding of the event but an enthusiasm for the topic. The book is written in an intelligent style that draws the reader in quickly. A brief glossary might help younger readers who choose this book. Definitions for words like epidemic, pestilence, and camphor would be helpful for the struggling reader and facilitate vocabulary development.
The inclusion of modern-day connections and 13 pages of sources serve to whet the reader’s appetite for more books on this topic (both non-fiction and fiction). This book should be appealing to both girls and boys and is even appropriate for the adult reader. Top notch resource for history and English teachers as well as the casual reader.
Reviews:
School Library Journal: “Black-and-white reproductions of period art, coupled with chapter headings that face full-page copies of newspaper articles of the time, help bring this dreadful episode to life. An afterword explains the yellow fever phenomenon, its causes, and contemporary outbreaks, and source notes are extensive and interesting.”
Booklist: “History, science, politics, and public health come together in this dramatic account of the disastrous yellow fever epidemic that hit the nation's capital more than 200 years ago. Drawing on firsthand accounts, medical and non-medical, Murphy re-creates the fear and panic in the infected city.”
Kirkus Reviews: "A mesmerizing, macabre account...powerful evocative prose... compelling subject matter...fascinating discussion...valuable lesson in reading and writing history.”
NY Times Book Review: "Lavishly illustrated . . . Murphy unflinchingly presents the horrors. . . he has produced another book that can make history come alive.”
Horn Book Magazine: “Diverse voices...representative images...Everywhere, Murphy is attentive to telling detail...Thoroughly documented...the work is both rigorous and inviting."
Connections:
Pair this book with Purple Death: The Mysterious Flu of 1918 by David Getz and Bubonic Plague by Jim Whiting. Use a graphic organizer to compare and contrast the three major pandemics.
Use the PBS-produced American Experience: Influenza 1918. While it may not be appropriate to watch the entire DVD (it is 60 minutes long), selected clips might give the children a perspective on the effect of a pandemic in a more contemporary time period.
Using a map of 18th Century Philadelphia (available online from Teaching American History - http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/map/) trace the progression of the disease. This map shows actual locations mentioned in the book. It can be blown up for a group discussion or individual copies can be provided. Lead a discussion about the nature of epidemics. Children should be able to make connections between disease and population density, proximity to water, sanitation practices, and socioeconomic conditions.
Relate these past pandemics to the current Swine Flu outbreak. This is a good opportunity to discuss basic hygiene such as covering your mouth when you cough and washing your hands frequently. A school nurse or health professional could be brought in to answer children’s questions.
Use the book to examine the economic, social, political, and demographic impact of an epidemic. A graphic organizer could be used using the above categories paired with the groups: the rich, the middle class, the poor, African Americans, the politicians and public officials, etc.
Math skills: Much of the book discusses statistics such as costs, number of lives lost, and distance between Philadelphia and surrounding cities and towns. Design a math handout that has the children calculate population change, total costs, and distance people had to travel to escape the epidemic.
Before reading, assign the students/children people from the book. As the book is read, have them keep a journal of events as they impacted their person during and after the event plus have them write about their feelings (scared, sad, lonely, confused, hopeful). Be sure to assign someone who survived. For children this age, it might be traumatic to have their person die.
Pair this book with an historical fiction book on the same topic such as Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. Compare the fictional account with Murphy’s non-fiction account.
Science Connection: Use the picture book Mosquito Bite by Alexandra Siy. Although written at a lower level than An American Plague, the vibrant photographs and detailed illustrations might help the students understand how the mosquito transmits diseases like yellow fever and malaria and what precautions can be taken to eliminate or ameliorate their impact, especially in developing countries.
If practical, use a portion of library fines to donate to Nothing But Nets which provides mosquito netting to African families. While mainly used to prevent malaria, this will help the children see the real-world connections. A special collection jar could also be used if the library allows. Note: It only takes a $10 donation to provide a net. http://www.nothingbutnets.net/
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