The American Plague

The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, The Epidemic That Shaped Our History

By: Molly Caldwell Crosby

Narrated by: Paul Woodson

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Over the course of history, yellow fever has paralyzed governments, halted commerce, quarantined cities, moved the U.S. capital, and altered the outcome of wars. During a single summer in Memphis alone, it cost more lives than the Chicago fire, the San Francisco earthquake, and the Johnstown flood combined.

In 1900, the U.S. sent three doctors to Cuba to discover how yellow fever was spread. There, they launched one of history's most controversial human studies. Compelling and terrifying, The American Plague depicts the story of yellow fever and its reign in this country - and in Africa, where even today it strikes thousands every year. With "arresting tales of heroism," it is a story as much about the nature of human beings as it is about the nature of disease.

©2006 Molly Caldwell Crosby (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Gripping...highly readable." Newsweek

Detailed history narrated quite well

I was naturally intrigued by this book given my experience with mosquito-borne and other infectious diseases. Loved the simplicity in writing and the clarity of its narration. Well done!

Engaging Historical Non-Fiction

I really enjoyed this audiobook and the author's writing. Like most audiobooks, once I was used to the narration, it was great. I am familiar with the city of Memphis. Learning how impactful yellow fever was to its development has brought the present day into a new perspective. The court square fountain had champagne in it! I'm nostalgic for a time and place that I didn't know.

Excellent Book

This book was extremely well written and her research was thorough and in-depth. I also enjoyed how it was written more as story rather than a clinical treatise.

Outstanding

With thorough scholarship and a captivating narrative the author hits all the points required of this history.

Really fascinating chapter of history

Coming back to listen again after covid, I’m struck again by the descriptions and repetitions of this era. This book is as compelling as a good true crime mystery, but as informative as a WHO briefing. It’s a great listen. The narrator really seems involved in the story as well. Sometimes you can tell a disinterested narrator, not so with this one.

Loaded with info and well presented

I have not heard the story of "Yellow Fever" before. It was good to learn new data and it's history..

Story was great but narrator was not.

The story was interesting and engaging, I knew little about yellow fever before reading this book. The only downside was the narrators constant inhalations. They take away from the book. This would have been 5 stars if the narrator learned to breathe through his nose.

Yellow Fever in Memphis

Yellow fever ravaged Memphis, peaking in 1878. The city went from a population of 47,000 to 19k in months. This book covers its origins in Africa, describes daily living, medical care, churches, and the deaths and burials of the victims.
The epidemic sparked a virologist coordinated lead team which tackled the disease. Walter Reed was a leader during the research. My great 3x grandparents and 6 other relatives died in the epidemic and are buried together in a family plot.

compare to today

This is a look at history and an example of what happen with covid. many doctors died treating covid before any answer were known

Fast paced with narrative style

Really fun read, with plenty of thrills and suspense. An excellent choice for people going for a non fiction book that is as readable as fiction