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Cholera: The Victorian Plague
Discover the story of the disease that devastated the Victorian population, and brought about major changes in sanitation. Drawing on the latest scientific research and a wealth of archival material, Amanda Thomas uses firsthand accounts, blending personal stories with an overview of the history of the disease and its devastating after effects on British society. This fascinating history of a catastrophic disease uncovers forgotten stories from each of the major cholera outbreaks in 1831-3, 1848-9, 1853-4 and 1866.
Amanda Thomas reveals that Victorian theories about the disease were often closer to the truth than we might assume, among them the belief that cholera was spread by miasma, or foul air.
Amanda Thomas reveals that Victorian theories about the disease were often closer to the truth than we might assume, among them the belief that cholera was spread by miasma, or foul air.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published December 19, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 21, 2020
First of all, this book has been very well researched and makes for accessible reading whether you know much about the cholera outbreaks or not. I knew quite a lot of the background but the depth provided certainly added to my knowledge and understanding. The book is very well written and although the science sections made sense at the time, I doubt it’ll lodge long in my science averse brain!!! I came to appreciate the spread better from the Bay of Bengal which still remains the origins of cholera and clear links were made to weather conditions which was ultimately to lead to the pandemic. Of particular interest to me in the light of Covid 19 is the failure to quarantine Sunderland as that is where the epidemic of 1832 began in Britain and from then on ‘King Cholera’ reigned for the next 30 years. The cures used were an intriguing snapshot of beliefs at the time which vary greatly from physician to physician. However, they all seemed to place great store in the efficacy of brandy!! If in doubt, prescribe that!!! King Cholera was particularly devastating to the poor although by no means exclusively. The move from country to town following industrialisation led to terrible quality housing where cholera rampaged with devastating consequences. Particularly moving were the chapters on pauper children, in particular the workhouse in Tooting which is just heartbreaking and was the inspiration for Charles Dickens Oliver Twist.
The chapters looking at the ideas on the causes of disease were also very interesting as by this time many believed in the idea of miasma or poisonous air and this belief accelerated the spread. John Snow and Dr William Budd in Bristol herald a new dawn in observational science and the growing belief in causation by an organism and I thought the sections on Snow in particular were especially interesting.
The author makes it clear that the cholera epidemics did lead to change in Britain albeit somewhat reluctantly. It led to the beginnings of investment in public health and engineering works to provide clean water, efficient drainage and so on however poor quality housing wasn’t dealt with until the following century. Because of the new legislation Britain never had another bad outbreak of cholera after 1866 as any outbreak was confined and contained. However, it still devastates regions of the world and I was shocked that it still causes over 200.000 deaths annually.
Overall, a very interesting book full of fascinating detail which shows how epidemics and pandemics can lead to change.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword and to the author for writing with such clarity.
The chapters looking at the ideas on the causes of disease were also very interesting as by this time many believed in the idea of miasma or poisonous air and this belief accelerated the spread. John Snow and Dr William Budd in Bristol herald a new dawn in observational science and the growing belief in causation by an organism and I thought the sections on Snow in particular were especially interesting.
The author makes it clear that the cholera epidemics did lead to change in Britain albeit somewhat reluctantly. It led to the beginnings of investment in public health and engineering works to provide clean water, efficient drainage and so on however poor quality housing wasn’t dealt with until the following century. Because of the new legislation Britain never had another bad outbreak of cholera after 1866 as any outbreak was confined and contained. However, it still devastates regions of the world and I was shocked that it still causes over 200.000 deaths annually.
Overall, a very interesting book full of fascinating detail which shows how epidemics and pandemics can lead to change.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword and to the author for writing with such clarity.
April 15, 2020
Another shocking revelation and slap in the face: human beings are the worst, most vulnerable, weakest creatures that inhabited earth; it is hard to believe with such an enhanced brain and amazing mind, we can die of a single bite of a mosquito or drinking a glass of water contaminated by microscopic bacteria. Well this sucks. I guess I will traumatize myself to death under quarantine by exposing myself to never-ending outbreaks.
Cholera is one of the most intriguing infectious diseases in the history of humankind. I have found myself reading about outbreaks, the black death and similar pandemics and epidemics recently and I am still not sure if it’s such a good idea considering the current situation. Nevertheless I am really curious about these diseases and wanted to learn more so here I ended up with more knowledge than I need without any regrets whatsoever.
As the great plague outbreak, cholera hit London in 1849, nearly two centuries after the former. It is quite intriguing that poor Britain suffered from nearly everything from rats (and thanks to them, the plague), then a fire, which nearly swallowed up a whole city and then another outbreak of cholera, which results from lack of sanitation and access to clean water (and much before that the famine in 14th century, phew…)
This well-researched book on cholera is too detailed for only an enthusiast such as myself and has an academic quality with notes and references that can put a top researcher to shame. It starts with the history and spread of the disease, the experimental treatment tried (Debauchery prevailed thanks to the belief that brandy cured the disease), the social/political/economic impacts of the outbreak and several other events and incidents connected to cholera including the sinking of the Princess Alice. Overall, too much for a person reading out of curiosity but a great resource for the real enthusiast.
Cholera is one of the most intriguing infectious diseases in the history of humankind. I have found myself reading about outbreaks, the black death and similar pandemics and epidemics recently and I am still not sure if it’s such a good idea considering the current situation. Nevertheless I am really curious about these diseases and wanted to learn more so here I ended up with more knowledge than I need without any regrets whatsoever.
As the great plague outbreak, cholera hit London in 1849, nearly two centuries after the former. It is quite intriguing that poor Britain suffered from nearly everything from rats (and thanks to them, the plague), then a fire, which nearly swallowed up a whole city and then another outbreak of cholera, which results from lack of sanitation and access to clean water (and much before that the famine in 14th century, phew…)
This well-researched book on cholera is too detailed for only an enthusiast such as myself and has an academic quality with notes and references that can put a top researcher to shame. It starts with the history and spread of the disease, the experimental treatment tried (Debauchery prevailed thanks to the belief that brandy cured the disease), the social/political/economic impacts of the outbreak and several other events and incidents connected to cholera including the sinking of the Princess Alice. Overall, too much for a person reading out of curiosity but a great resource for the real enthusiast.
November 19, 2016
Cholera – The Victorian Plague
Any historian of the nineteenth century will be able to refer to many outbreaks of Cholera, not out in the colonies, but here in Britain, and more importantly amongst the poor in the slums. There is not just one singular example, but many, whether in London, Manchester or Edinburgh, there are many reports and sadly deaths from Cholera.
Historian Amanda Thomas, who has written previously about Cholera in Lambeth London, as well as other books has written an interesting and passionate book about Cholera. This is an excellent reader for the general reader of history and an excellent introduction for those students of history who wish to go deeper in to the subject.
Amanda Thomas in the first chapter of the book gives a brief synopsis of the history and the epidemics that it has caused. Cholera was feared especially in the nineteenth century and even caused unrest in 1820, but as an ancient disease it has always had the ability to cause fear as its reputation as a killer.
Thomas deals with the state of the poor and the terrible sanitary conditions that the poor lived in within the slums. How with the density and poor housing, along with the poor sanitation, the overcrowding, the influx of migrants along with the carbon and chemical emissions from both home and factories, all added to the shortening of lives. By doing this, she is setting the scene in which cholera could flourish especially during the Industrial Revolution.
This is an interesting book for all those who are interested in the lives of the poor in the nineteenth century and how disease affected them and took many lives early. As Thomas states in her conclusion ‘Cholera was the plague of the Victorian era…’ but given the right circumstances could return. This is an engrossing read, thought provoking and challenging and a bright light on somethings the elites would have rather forgotten.
Any historian of the nineteenth century will be able to refer to many outbreaks of Cholera, not out in the colonies, but here in Britain, and more importantly amongst the poor in the slums. There is not just one singular example, but many, whether in London, Manchester or Edinburgh, there are many reports and sadly deaths from Cholera.
Historian Amanda Thomas, who has written previously about Cholera in Lambeth London, as well as other books has written an interesting and passionate book about Cholera. This is an excellent reader for the general reader of history and an excellent introduction for those students of history who wish to go deeper in to the subject.
Amanda Thomas in the first chapter of the book gives a brief synopsis of the history and the epidemics that it has caused. Cholera was feared especially in the nineteenth century and even caused unrest in 1820, but as an ancient disease it has always had the ability to cause fear as its reputation as a killer.
Thomas deals with the state of the poor and the terrible sanitary conditions that the poor lived in within the slums. How with the density and poor housing, along with the poor sanitation, the overcrowding, the influx of migrants along with the carbon and chemical emissions from both home and factories, all added to the shortening of lives. By doing this, she is setting the scene in which cholera could flourish especially during the Industrial Revolution.
This is an interesting book for all those who are interested in the lives of the poor in the nineteenth century and how disease affected them and took many lives early. As Thomas states in her conclusion ‘Cholera was the plague of the Victorian era…’ but given the right circumstances could return. This is an engrossing read, thought provoking and challenging and a bright light on somethings the elites would have rather forgotten.
November 3, 2018
Not the most entertaining read. I'd pass unless you are extremely interested in cholera in general and are willing to slog through it.
April 23, 2020
3.5 stars
This book looks at cholera in England largely over the 19th century, when Asiatic cholera first arrived and became more common than the less-fatal native cholera. Much of the book focuses on the medical establishment, including studies on how cholera spread and how they treated it, and then on London's rebuilt sewage system, the cost, the pumping stations, and so forth.
I knew next to nothing about cholera in England when I started this, other than that my 2ggrandfather lived in a small town that was hit badly in 1849. So the background information was interesting and necessary. I can only imagine the fear of people living in the hard-hit areas, as they believed cholera was spread through the air when it was actually coming from the water supply--and the first doctor to prove this was still not fully believed until after his death. I read a galley on my kindle, and there are some maps and a number of pictures at the end. I found myself wanting and needing maps and diagrams (especially of the old and new sewage systems), because I don't know London well and I certainly don't know sewage engineering, so all the words describing how and where cholera spread and how the sewage was moved was just...words. Hopefully the final book will have charts and maps called out in the text for easy review--and hopefully they will be large enough to see. Over 20 % of this book was endmatter--notes (generally just citations), a bibliography, and pictures.
I did find the last two or so chapters to feel rushed and tacked on--these were about cholera today, its resistance to antibiotics, a vaccine that (with good hygiene) is very helpful, and about ongoing research on cholera and its spread. The science here was a little over my head (erspecially endemic vs epidemic).
———
Thanks to netgalley and Pen and Sword for providing me with an e-galley of this book.
This book looks at cholera in England largely over the 19th century, when Asiatic cholera first arrived and became more common than the less-fatal native cholera. Much of the book focuses on the medical establishment, including studies on how cholera spread and how they treated it, and then on London's rebuilt sewage system, the cost, the pumping stations, and so forth.
I knew next to nothing about cholera in England when I started this, other than that my 2ggrandfather lived in a small town that was hit badly in 1849. So the background information was interesting and necessary. I can only imagine the fear of people living in the hard-hit areas, as they believed cholera was spread through the air when it was actually coming from the water supply--and the first doctor to prove this was still not fully believed until after his death. I read a galley on my kindle, and there are some maps and a number of pictures at the end. I found myself wanting and needing maps and diagrams (especially of the old and new sewage systems), because I don't know London well and I certainly don't know sewage engineering, so all the words describing how and where cholera spread and how the sewage was moved was just...words. Hopefully the final book will have charts and maps called out in the text for easy review--and hopefully they will be large enough to see. Over 20 % of this book was endmatter--notes (generally just citations), a bibliography, and pictures.
I did find the last two or so chapters to feel rushed and tacked on--these were about cholera today, its resistance to antibiotics, a vaccine that (with good hygiene) is very helpful, and about ongoing research on cholera and its spread. The science here was a little over my head (erspecially endemic vs epidemic).
———
Thanks to netgalley and Pen and Sword for providing me with an e-galley of this book.
August 26, 2020
Cholera was one of the major killers of the Victorian age. When someone became sick, it was very rare that anyone would recover, and the living and sanitary conditions of the time.
Amanda Thomas did a great job with this book! I loved reading the different accounts, recipes of medicines, and views of the spread of the disease. It was a great look into the cause and effect of the disease, as well as having some of the documentation from the time.
Definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys reading about plagues! I was not disappointed at all!
Thank you to Pen and Sword for a copy of this book for a fair and unbiased review.
Amanda Thomas did a great job with this book! I loved reading the different accounts, recipes of medicines, and views of the spread of the disease. It was a great look into the cause and effect of the disease, as well as having some of the documentation from the time.
Definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys reading about plagues! I was not disappointed at all!
Thank you to Pen and Sword for a copy of this book for a fair and unbiased review.
April 4, 2020
I Enjoyed everything about this book there was nothing I didn't like about the book. I Like the setting, the writing style, the plot, the plot twists and the characters in the book were amazing. I would gladly reread it again.
May 3, 2020
Better than “The Ghost Map”
I enjoyed this book. I found it very informative, but at points there were too many details. The writing style was somewhat formal, lacking a conversational tone. However the book is better than “The Ghost Map” by Steven Johnson, which was weak on science and focused on a background figure. Another book on cholera that I read and enjoyed is “The Medical Detective: John Snow, Cholera And The Mystery Of The Broad Street Pump” by Sandra Hempel. This book had a conversational tone and it focused on a hero of mine, Dr. John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology. For this reason, this is my favorite book on cholera. However, for a general, thorough discussion, the book by Amanda J. Thomas is more than good enough.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.
I enjoyed this book. I found it very informative, but at points there were too many details. The writing style was somewhat formal, lacking a conversational tone. However the book is better than “The Ghost Map” by Steven Johnson, which was weak on science and focused on a background figure. Another book on cholera that I read and enjoyed is “The Medical Detective: John Snow, Cholera And The Mystery Of The Broad Street Pump” by Sandra Hempel. This book had a conversational tone and it focused on a hero of mine, Dr. John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology. For this reason, this is my favorite book on cholera. However, for a general, thorough discussion, the book by Amanda J. Thomas is more than good enough.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.
October 16, 2020
An excellent overview of cholera from it's first origins (in written history) to today (before reading this book I didn't know that cholera is still endemic in many parts of the world), while focusing most of its attention on cholera in England during the Victorian times. Accessible, educational and thought-provoking, I highly recommend this book for those interested in the topic.
*I received a free copy through Netgalley, but the review is my own opinion*
*I received a free copy through Netgalley, but the review is my own opinion*
April 20, 2023
Cholera - The Victorian Plague
by Amanda J. Thomas
The book that I present to you today is a very special book, especially these days, even if it was published in 2015. The historical moment we are experiencing, a critical moment for the present, cannot on the one hand not make us look to the future , with anxiety and concern, but at the same time I believe that it is also good to look at the past and the teachings of those who lived before us in facing (and I may be allowed this judgment even though I am not a doctor) much worse diseases.
Today's book, written by historian Amanda J. Thomas, also author of the excellent "The Nonconformist Revolution" (reviewed here: https://omneignotopromagnifico.blogsp...... ), a book written after the one I am reviewing today is dedicated to a disease that has struck several times in history and that still represents a threat today: Cholera.
The subtitle narrows the field of investigation to a fascinating historical period, full of social and technological transformations and therefore a harbinger of many food for thought, the Victorian period. The era that took its name from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) saw in fact 4 major epidemics of cholera in the United Kingdom (1831-1833, 1848-1849, 1853-1854, 1866) that affected various cities of the country .
The historian tells us about this period using the story of each epidemic, its causes and the scientific and social remedies that were put in place in those years. The story of the epidemics is not and cannot be just a medical (and therefore obviously technical) story but Thomas with her usual style manages to convey enough technical and scientific knowledge in an easy to understand, and I must say, passionate way. So it is for the theories on contagion, in the dichotomy between those who believed that it spread through "miasma" and who (actually few at the time) had grasped the correlation between water and the transport of the disease.
Hers is a social story, as it obviously is, of a period in which the rights of people, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, of the factories and slums that accompanied them, did not go hand in hand with scientific progress. It is also a story that makes us understand the terrible conditions in which a part of the population lived, rough sanitation conditions and lack of clean water. It is above all a story of men, some honest, who spent their time in improving these conditions, while others took advantage of it (the chapter "Tooting Paupers's Paradise" tells of the terrible exploitation of poor children in the context of the Poor's Law of 1834, which instead of straightening emergency situations created even more squalor).
As usual and as in her next book, Thomas's investigation is deep and detailed, and the notes testify to the great work of studying the archives.
At the same time the intuition of John Snow is valued , who understood how a water pump located in a London street, Broadstreet, was at the base of an epidemic that caused many deaths, thus giving greater certainty to the correlation between contaminated water and the onset of the disease. .
A disease, we remember, certainly terrible and which, for the times, left little escape. Interesting and curious are some of the remedies covered in a chapter: it was thought that Brandy was one of the best remedies for treating cholera!
But undoubtedly one of the great factors in the spread of the disease was the poor hygienic condition due to poorly built or absent sewers and the proximity of cemeteries (which unlike the continent could still exist in city centers). Here, too, the investigation into the measures taken is profound, with reports of the various works to purify central London (which served as a basis for similar interventions throughout the country) and for the construction of a new, expensive but efficient sewer system. Obviously, the overpopulation due to the transfer of people from the countryside to the city center and the increased birth rate also played an important factor in the spread of diseases.
What more can I say? The analysis of the disease by Amanda Thomas starts from a chapter called "An Ancient Disease" and ends with another chapter "A Modern Disease" creating a complete circle in which it can be said that the disease has been broken down into its medical and social influence on the affected places. The last chapter brings us to the terrible fact that the disease can still exist and can be carried from one country to another if medical checks are not careful and conscientious. As mentioned, if cholera spread due to the increased possibilities of travel and trade of ships in the mid-nineteenth century, today when you can reach every part of the world in a few hours, the danger is even greater. We have an example today with COVID19 and the book makes us understand and empathize with the condition of people in the Victorian Era. Another beautiful book by Amanda J. Thomas which, while dealing with a seemingly distant topic, offers us food for thought that appears absolutely topical to us.
by Amanda J. Thomas
The book that I present to you today is a very special book, especially these days, even if it was published in 2015. The historical moment we are experiencing, a critical moment for the present, cannot on the one hand not make us look to the future , with anxiety and concern, but at the same time I believe that it is also good to look at the past and the teachings of those who lived before us in facing (and I may be allowed this judgment even though I am not a doctor) much worse diseases.
Today's book, written by historian Amanda J. Thomas, also author of the excellent "The Nonconformist Revolution" (reviewed here: https://omneignotopromagnifico.blogsp...... ), a book written after the one I am reviewing today is dedicated to a disease that has struck several times in history and that still represents a threat today: Cholera.
The subtitle narrows the field of investigation to a fascinating historical period, full of social and technological transformations and therefore a harbinger of many food for thought, the Victorian period. The era that took its name from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) saw in fact 4 major epidemics of cholera in the United Kingdom (1831-1833, 1848-1849, 1853-1854, 1866) that affected various cities of the country .
The historian tells us about this period using the story of each epidemic, its causes and the scientific and social remedies that were put in place in those years. The story of the epidemics is not and cannot be just a medical (and therefore obviously technical) story but Thomas with her usual style manages to convey enough technical and scientific knowledge in an easy to understand, and I must say, passionate way. So it is for the theories on contagion, in the dichotomy between those who believed that it spread through "miasma" and who (actually few at the time) had grasped the correlation between water and the transport of the disease.
Hers is a social story, as it obviously is, of a period in which the rights of people, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, of the factories and slums that accompanied them, did not go hand in hand with scientific progress. It is also a story that makes us understand the terrible conditions in which a part of the population lived, rough sanitation conditions and lack of clean water. It is above all a story of men, some honest, who spent their time in improving these conditions, while others took advantage of it (the chapter "Tooting Paupers's Paradise" tells of the terrible exploitation of poor children in the context of the Poor's Law of 1834, which instead of straightening emergency situations created even more squalor).
As usual and as in her next book, Thomas's investigation is deep and detailed, and the notes testify to the great work of studying the archives.
At the same time the intuition of John Snow is valued , who understood how a water pump located in a London street, Broadstreet, was at the base of an epidemic that caused many deaths, thus giving greater certainty to the correlation between contaminated water and the onset of the disease. .
A disease, we remember, certainly terrible and which, for the times, left little escape. Interesting and curious are some of the remedies covered in a chapter: it was thought that Brandy was one of the best remedies for treating cholera!
But undoubtedly one of the great factors in the spread of the disease was the poor hygienic condition due to poorly built or absent sewers and the proximity of cemeteries (which unlike the continent could still exist in city centers). Here, too, the investigation into the measures taken is profound, with reports of the various works to purify central London (which served as a basis for similar interventions throughout the country) and for the construction of a new, expensive but efficient sewer system. Obviously, the overpopulation due to the transfer of people from the countryside to the city center and the increased birth rate also played an important factor in the spread of diseases.
What more can I say? The analysis of the disease by Amanda Thomas starts from a chapter called "An Ancient Disease" and ends with another chapter "A Modern Disease" creating a complete circle in which it can be said that the disease has been broken down into its medical and social influence on the affected places. The last chapter brings us to the terrible fact that the disease can still exist and can be carried from one country to another if medical checks are not careful and conscientious. As mentioned, if cholera spread due to the increased possibilities of travel and trade of ships in the mid-nineteenth century, today when you can reach every part of the world in a few hours, the danger is even greater. We have an example today with COVID19 and the book makes us understand and empathize with the condition of people in the Victorian Era. Another beautiful book by Amanda J. Thomas which, while dealing with a seemingly distant topic, offers us food for thought that appears absolutely topical to us.
May 6, 2020
It is impossible in 2020 to read Cholera by Amanda J Thomas and not be tempted to draw comparisons between the cholera epidemics in Britain (1831-3, 1848-9, 1853-4 and 1866) and the COVID19 Pandemic which has already infected nearly 3M people around the world. For that reason alone, this is a book worth investing the necessary time and energy it takes to read. There is much to learn about the social, economic, historical and political impacts on and responses to infectious diseases, and the author does a terrific job of making that information available in a form that is clear, engaging and appropriately sourced.
I admit near total ignorance about the ravages of cholera or the social and political landscape of 19th century England, much less the confluence of the two, so much of the information in this book was new to me. It was also fascinating.
The author draws in period accounts from people who lived through the epidemics, modern day scientific understandings, social issues including poverty, worker conditions, child welfare, sanitation, dealing with the dead, record keeping and nutrition. She even brings in Charles Dickens! Perhaps the most disturbing part of the book was the section about Droute's, a horrific social experiment (1848) in relocating poor, inner city kids to the less populated and potentially less susceptible to cholera areas of rural England. Yikes!
It's clear from reading Cholera by Amanda J Thomas that every thread of British life was changed by Cholera and the various responses to it. Many of the changes failed, a few were way off the mark and some made things worse, but some continue to play into what we know about infectious disease outbreaks today, and how we as a people go forward.
This is one of those pure history books that makes people fall in love with history. It isn't boring or academic or overwhelming. It doesn't smell like tweed and tobacco. Instead, it tells a good story that carries the reader to the final page.
If you're an armchair historian, if you're into British history, or just wondering what history has to teach us about highly infectious diseases, Cholera is a fabulous choice. It is rich with detail and personality, while staying true to the truth of history.
This review is based on an advance copy read.
I admit near total ignorance about the ravages of cholera or the social and political landscape of 19th century England, much less the confluence of the two, so much of the information in this book was new to me. It was also fascinating.
The author draws in period accounts from people who lived through the epidemics, modern day scientific understandings, social issues including poverty, worker conditions, child welfare, sanitation, dealing with the dead, record keeping and nutrition. She even brings in Charles Dickens! Perhaps the most disturbing part of the book was the section about Droute's, a horrific social experiment (1848) in relocating poor, inner city kids to the less populated and potentially less susceptible to cholera areas of rural England. Yikes!
It's clear from reading Cholera by Amanda J Thomas that every thread of British life was changed by Cholera and the various responses to it. Many of the changes failed, a few were way off the mark and some made things worse, but some continue to play into what we know about infectious disease outbreaks today, and how we as a people go forward.
This is one of those pure history books that makes people fall in love with history. It isn't boring or academic or overwhelming. It doesn't smell like tweed and tobacco. Instead, it tells a good story that carries the reader to the final page.
If you're an armchair historian, if you're into British history, or just wondering what history has to teach us about highly infectious diseases, Cholera is a fabulous choice. It is rich with detail and personality, while staying true to the truth of history.
This review is based on an advance copy read.
April 23, 2020
It is impossible in 2020 to read Cholera by Amanda J Thomas and not be tempted to draw comparisons between the cholera epidemics in Britain (1831-3, 1848-9, 1853-4 and 1866) and the COVID19 Pandemic which has already infected nearly 3M people around the world. For that reason alone, this is a book worth investing the necessary time and energy it takes to read. There is much to learn about the social, economic, historical and political impacts on and responses to infectious diseases, and the author does a terrific job of making that information available in a form that is clear, engaging and appropriately sourced.
I admit near total ignorance about the ravages of cholera or the social and political landscape of 19th century England, much less the confluence of the two, so much of the information in this book was new to me. It was also fascinating.
The author draws in period accounts from people who lived through the epidemics, modern day scientific understandings, social issues including poverty, worker conditions, child welfare, sanitation, dealing with the dead, record keeping and nutrition. She even brings in Charles Dickens! Perhaps the most disturbing part of the book was the section about Droute's, a horrific social experiment (1848) in relocating poor, inner city kids to the less populated and potentially less susceptible to cholera areas of rural England. Yikes!
It's clear from reading Cholera by Amanda J Thomas that every thread of British life was changed by Cholera and the various responses to it. Many of the changes failed, a few were way off the mark and some made things worse, but some continue to play into what we know about infectious disease outbreaks today, and how we as a people go forward.
This is one of those pure history books that makes people fall in love with history. It isn't boring or academic or overwhelming. It doesn't smell like tweed and tobacco. Instead, it tells a good story that carries the reader to the final page.
If you're an armchair historian, if you're into British history, or just wondering what history has to teach us about highly infectious diseases, Cholera is a fabulous choice. It is rich with detail and personality, while staying true to the truth of history.
This review is based on an advance copy read.
I admit near total ignorance about the ravages of cholera or the social and political landscape of 19th century England, much less the confluence of the two, so much of the information in this book was new to me. It was also fascinating.
The author draws in period accounts from people who lived through the epidemics, modern day scientific understandings, social issues including poverty, worker conditions, child welfare, sanitation, dealing with the dead, record keeping and nutrition. She even brings in Charles Dickens! Perhaps the most disturbing part of the book was the section about Droute's, a horrific social experiment (1848) in relocating poor, inner city kids to the less populated and potentially less susceptible to cholera areas of rural England. Yikes!
It's clear from reading Cholera by Amanda J Thomas that every thread of British life was changed by Cholera and the various responses to it. Many of the changes failed, a few were way off the mark and some made things worse, but some continue to play into what we know about infectious disease outbreaks today, and how we as a people go forward.
This is one of those pure history books that makes people fall in love with history. It isn't boring or academic or overwhelming. It doesn't smell like tweed and tobacco. Instead, it tells a good story that carries the reader to the final page.
If you're an armchair historian, if you're into British history, or just wondering what history has to teach us about highly infectious diseases, Cholera is a fabulous choice. It is rich with detail and personality, while staying true to the truth of history.
This review is based on an advance copy read.
May 29, 2020
There have been seven pandemics of cholera. We are in one right now. It is just not west affecting the west so we don't hear about it. I didn't know about it until I read this book. I vaguely remember hearing about people getting cholera in the U.S. from eating unwashed fruit from South America. I religiously wash everything including my hands. Cholera is called the blue death because your skin turns blue as you die. You get very cold and dehydrated due to the tremendous loss of fluid through your GI tract. The only cure is rehydration and comfort measures.
A person gets cholera because of poor sanitation and drinking contamination of the drinking water. People used to think you got it from miasma or foul air. I especially found the parts about London building the underground sewer system the best part of the book. The huge effort and the ingenuity were awe-inspiring. Three to five million people get cholera each year with between 100,000 to 200,000 deaths per year. Cholera is an ancient disease that originates from the Bay of Bengal. It is still in the 21st Century a killer. There are copious footnotes and a bibliography. I found this book to be endlessly fascinating. I am so grateful for indoor plumbing and our sewer systems. This book is not written as a dry history book but reads easily. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this interesting book in exchange for a review.
A person gets cholera because of poor sanitation and drinking contamination of the drinking water. People used to think you got it from miasma or foul air. I especially found the parts about London building the underground sewer system the best part of the book. The huge effort and the ingenuity were awe-inspiring. Three to five million people get cholera each year with between 100,000 to 200,000 deaths per year. Cholera is an ancient disease that originates from the Bay of Bengal. It is still in the 21st Century a killer. There are copious footnotes and a bibliography. I found this book to be endlessly fascinating. I am so grateful for indoor plumbing and our sewer systems. This book is not written as a dry history book but reads easily. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this interesting book in exchange for a review.
March 15, 2020
Incredibly interesting book, at least for me. I'd read the book about John Snow years ago, but was saw this book on the history of cholera in Great Britain during the Victorian Era. The amount of research that went into all the many problems that led to the four big cholera outbreaks were much more complicated than what was discussed in the John Snow book about the water source and the Pump. Thomas covers John Snow's story well, and puts it in perspective where it belongs. But there were many other men who aided in discovering the source of contamination, and in following how cholera spread in great Britain. One of these men used statistical research to demonstrate this, and it really made a huge impact on epidemiology which up until then had not been a science that could prove things.
With the coronavirus COVID-19, we should remember these men who put such tools to use and demonstrated their use as a way to follow disease. Let's hope the stupid people in charge don't take us back to time periods where viruses and bacteria can kill huge swaths of population because no one cares! Thomas makes it more than clear in this book, that the wealthy did not care how the poor were treated and who got sick much more easily than they did. It's a good book for this time period...but you better like a lot of details!
With the coronavirus COVID-19, we should remember these men who put such tools to use and demonstrated their use as a way to follow disease. Let's hope the stupid people in charge don't take us back to time periods where viruses and bacteria can kill huge swaths of population because no one cares! Thomas makes it more than clear in this book, that the wealthy did not care how the poor were treated and who got sick much more easily than they did. It's a good book for this time period...but you better like a lot of details!
May 5, 2020
This was my first non-fiction read of 2020 and it was pretty interesting!
Thomas does a great job walking her readers through the 19th century cholera outbreaks in England. Thomas presents her readers with a well rounded picture of cholera and discusses a variety of topics related to it such as sanitation, work houses, housing, poverty and city planning. By exploring several topics at once Thomas helps keep her readers engaged with the material while not overwhelming them with information.
What I found most interesting about this book were the parallels that could be drawn between 19th century Cholera outbreaks and the current outbreak of COVID-19. We still have a lot to learn about COVID-19 but it was easy to see how the breakthroughs 19th century doctors and scientist made have effected our 21st century response to COVID-19. This is a very timely book and readers will gain a lot of insight into history, and into their contemporary lives.
This book is very well research, approachable and easy to follow and I'd highly recommend this book to history lovers and those interested in disease and pandemics.
Thomas does a great job walking her readers through the 19th century cholera outbreaks in England. Thomas presents her readers with a well rounded picture of cholera and discusses a variety of topics related to it such as sanitation, work houses, housing, poverty and city planning. By exploring several topics at once Thomas helps keep her readers engaged with the material while not overwhelming them with information.
What I found most interesting about this book were the parallels that could be drawn between 19th century Cholera outbreaks and the current outbreak of COVID-19. We still have a lot to learn about COVID-19 but it was easy to see how the breakthroughs 19th century doctors and scientist made have effected our 21st century response to COVID-19. This is a very timely book and readers will gain a lot of insight into history, and into their contemporary lives.
This book is very well research, approachable and easy to follow and I'd highly recommend this book to history lovers and those interested in disease and pandemics.
April 16, 2020
A very solid text about cholera during the Victorian era. The book follows the origin and spread of the epidemic, looking very thoroughly at the work of scientists at that time who tried so hard to find out why these epidemics rose and fell. It was interesting to see the work they did to explore how the disease was spread, the insistence of the 'miasma' theories rather than understanding how it was waterborne, and the poor sanitation and housing conditions that exacerbated the spread of the disease.
The author has researched the contemporary scientists and their theories in detail, and gives detailed accounts of issues such as the Tooting workhouse scandal and the eventual improvement of sanitation in London and beyond. Some accounts are shocking and harrowing.
A thoroughly readable and academic book, taking the story right to the present day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The author has researched the contemporary scientists and their theories in detail, and gives detailed accounts of issues such as the Tooting workhouse scandal and the eventual improvement of sanitation in London and beyond. Some accounts are shocking and harrowing.
A thoroughly readable and academic book, taking the story right to the present day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2020
This is a fully researched book that explores and explains the plague that had the Victorian's at deaths door.
Amanda Thomas shows us the mistakes that were made, and the revolutionary changes that comes with wide spreading disease...
This book could not have come at a better time. While the world today is struggling with the Covid Pandemic and the paranoia with misinformation that seeps into our daily lives, maybe the answers for this "plague" can be found in the past...
From the book: This fascinating history of a catastrophic disease uncovers forgotten stories from each of the major cholera outbreaks in 1831-3, 1848-9, 1853-4 and 1866.
Insightful and informative, the Cholera outbreaks have much to teach us.
Thank you to NetGalley, Pen and Sword, and the author, Ms. Amanda Thomas for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "Cholera, The Victorian Plague". The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.
4⭐
Amanda Thomas shows us the mistakes that were made, and the revolutionary changes that comes with wide spreading disease...
This book could not have come at a better time. While the world today is struggling with the Covid Pandemic and the paranoia with misinformation that seeps into our daily lives, maybe the answers for this "plague" can be found in the past...
From the book: This fascinating history of a catastrophic disease uncovers forgotten stories from each of the major cholera outbreaks in 1831-3, 1848-9, 1853-4 and 1866.
Insightful and informative, the Cholera outbreaks have much to teach us.
Thank you to NetGalley, Pen and Sword, and the author, Ms. Amanda Thomas for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "Cholera, The Victorian Plague". The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.
4⭐
April 27, 2019
I got this book from freading from my library because of the cover. I usually don't choose a book based on the cover but between the cover and the title, I was intrigued. The first 9 chapters detail Cholera from the outbreaks in England in the Nineteenth Century. Chapter 10 talks about Cholera more during modern times. I really enjoyed reading about the cholera outbreaks in the UK during the Nineteenth Century, and especially, about what different doctors and other officials did to improve sanitation and water supply in cities. The information in Chapter 10 was a little advanced for me and while I understood it, it was a little alarming. This was an interesting book to read and I really enjoyed the book. I would recommend this book.
August 10, 2020
Un recuento muy completo y detallado (a veces demasiado detallado para mi gusto,) pero que no excluye nada esencial para entender qué fue lo que hizo de esta plaga tan nefasta y cómo afectó a la época Victoriana. Detalles mórbidos, análisis científicos e historias trágicas en busca de una cura. ¿Quién dijo que las distopías son solo ficción? Fascinante.
A very complete and detailed account (sometimes too detailed for my taste,) but that does not exclude anything essential to understand what it was that made this plague so dire and how it affected the Victorian era. Morbid details, scientific analysis and tragic stories in search of a cure. Who said dystopias are just fiction? Fascinating.
A very complete and detailed account (sometimes too detailed for my taste,) but that does not exclude anything essential to understand what it was that made this plague so dire and how it affected the Victorian era. Morbid details, scientific analysis and tragic stories in search of a cure. Who said dystopias are just fiction? Fascinating.
November 7, 2020
Cholera has long ravaged mankind, and yet we still don’t fully understand it. To begin to do so, though, the author walks us through each outbreak in the U.K. that occurred in the 1800s.
Each chapter focuses on something different, so some are more interesting (and easier to read) than others. For instance, the chapter on John Snow and his contribution to cholera research was quite fascinating.
At the end, the author reveals that we still lose as least 200,000 people per year to this disease. Even worse, one theory states that it will continuously get worst with global warming. There is a vaccine that can help, but your best bet is to keep a clean bathroom environment. Wash your hands, everyone!
Each chapter focuses on something different, so some are more interesting (and easier to read) than others. For instance, the chapter on John Snow and his contribution to cholera research was quite fascinating.
At the end, the author reveals that we still lose as least 200,000 people per year to this disease. Even worse, one theory states that it will continuously get worst with global warming. There is a vaccine that can help, but your best bet is to keep a clean bathroom environment. Wash your hands, everyone!
September 11, 2019
Not a bad book but I was alternately confused or board at times. There were some interesting parts but The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson is a better written and more compelling book about cholera. If you are very interested in the subject though it would be beneficial to read them both as they have different takes on cholera in Victorian England.
April 14, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. A fascinating book about topic many are aware of but know little about. Would make a useful historical research tool for History students and writers.
July 22, 2020
Long and a bit wordy
Wth worth the read however. It has a lot of detail and it may big you down but it's the way to really appreciate the details and the full story. Especially in light of today's pandemic.
Wth worth the read however. It has a lot of detail and it may big you down but it's the way to really appreciate the details and the full story. Especially in light of today's pandemic.
September 16, 2019
Excellent and fascinating read - recommended.
May 26, 2020
this book was a nice gem to read during the Covid pandemic, really nicely researched and informative , I highly recommend it
November 14, 2020
This book is timely, and a rare example of nonfiction that reads like fiction. As a nonfiction junkie, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's an automatic recommend for me in the future!
April 29, 2020
What should you read in the midst of a pandemic? How about a book about a disease that has also caused pandemics in the past, in this case cholera. That's what drew me to this book and I found it full of information. It was full of well documented information which I appreciate as a librarian but I guess I thought it would be more of a story rather than a academic treatise. It was not hard to read and I didn't abandon it however it was not my favorite book.
June 24, 2020
I love a book about victorian medicine. Cholera is my favourite Victorian disease but I found this fairly dull. If you have studied medicine through time for GCSE history there's not really much more in here than you won't already know
May 8, 2020
I am a lover of non-fiction and I love anything to do with the Victorian era, so could not resist requesting an ARC from NetGalley.
This was an okay read... interesting in parts. Personally, a lot of the time I just felt underwhelmed.
If you like to read about history this is a good choice for you.
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