She defied the edict.īringing early 20th-century New York alive - the neighborhoods, the bars, the park being carved out of upper Manhattan, the emerging skyscrapers, the boat traffic - Fever is as fiercely compelling asTyphoid Mary herself, an ambitious retelling of a forgotten life. Yet for Mary - spoiled by her status and income and genuinely passionate about cooking - most domestic and factory jobs were heinous. She was released under the condition that she never work as a cook again. In order to keep New York's citizens safe from Mallon, the Department of Health sent her to North Brother Island where she was kept in isolation from 1907-1910. Working in the kitchens of the upper class, she left a trail of disease in her wake, until one enterprising and ruthless 'medical engineer' proposed the inconceivable notion of the 'asymptomatic carrier' - and from then on Mary Mallon was a hunted woman. Mary Mallon was a courageous, headstrong Irish immigrant woman who bravely came to America alone, fought hard to climb up from the lowest rung of the domestic service ladder, and discovered in herself an uncanny, and coveted, talent for cooking. Audible.A bold, mesmerizing novel about the woman known as 'Typhoid Mary', the first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever in the early 20th century - by an award-winning writer chosen as one of '5 Under 35' by the National Book Foundation.Listening Length: 9 hours and 53 minutes.I would recommend this one in either book or audio format, I feel both will come off well. Learning more of her story was very interesting. She was a strong woman who carried herself well even through the hard years. I enjoyed learning of her tough exterior. Narrated by Candace Thaxton, Fever was an interesting listen about Mary Mallon’s life. When I discovered this book Fever on audio I felt this would be an opportunity to learn more of this woman. We have probably all heard at one point or another about “Typhoid Mary”. He called this out openly, saying Mary was a “asymptomatic carrier” of Typhoid Fever.įor three years Mary was kept in isolation, away from those she loved and from anything to do with other people.

A particular keen-eyed Medical Engineer zoned in on Mary as being the common denominator. Then the families of those Mary cooked for began to get sick. Soon she found her sought after by New York’s elite families wanting the hard-working Mary with the skills of a chef to be theirs exclusively. She worked hard laboring in kitchens learning skills as a cook until she became quite good. Mary ha a stubborn streak and she knew what she wanted and how to get it. Mary Mallon was 15 years old when she left Ireland to come to New York.

The amazing story behind “Typhoid Mary”, truly had no idea.

Fever a novel by mary beth keane