In spring of 1918, World War I was underway, and troops at Fort Riley, Kansas, found themselves felled by influenza. By the summer of 1918, the second wave struck as a highly contagious and lethal epidemic and within weeks exploded into a pandemic, an illness that travels rapidly from one continent to another. It would impact the course of the war, and kill many millions more soldiers than warfare itself. Of all diseases, the 1918 flu was by far the...

A history of the slick and foul-smelling substance that drives our existence and that becomes scarcer as our dependence on it grows.

A portrait of the influential intellectual behind such books as "The Age of Reason" discusses his limited formal education, fervent support of American independence, and life-risking advocacy of history-shaping ideas.

Chronicles the life and achievements of America's first president, George Washington, and discusses his feelings about several issues, including slavery.

"Wildfires have been part of the American landscape for thousands of years. Forests need fire--it's as necessary to their well-being as soil and sunlight. But some fires burn out of control, destroying everything and everyone in their path. In this book, you'll find out about how and why wildfires happen, how different groups . . . have managed forests and fire, the biggest wildfires in American history--how they began and . . . stories of both rescue...

Examines the life of abolitionist John Brown and the raid he led on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1859, exploring his religious fanaticism and belief in "righteous violence," --and committment to domestic terrorism.

From a childhood steeped in poverty, violence, and patriotic pride, Andrew Jackson rose to the heights of celebrity and power. The first popularly elected president, he won admiration by fighting corruption, championing the common man, shaping the power of the executive office, and preserving the fragile union of the young United States.
Yet Jackson's ruthless pursuit of what he believed to be "progress" left indelible stains on the nation's...

Describes the causes and leading events of the early nineteenth-century conflict between Great Britain and the United States.

Brings Lincoln to life by placing him in the context of his own personal background and the larger circumstances of the country's greatest conflict.

Chronicles Dr. Edward Jenner's efforts to discover a vaccine for the smallpox virus and explains how his discovery impacted the world.