“Meticulously researched and engagingly presented”
— Midwest Book Review
“In 1849 a devastating conflagration raced through St. Louis just when a lethal cholera epidemic was destroying whole families, which was also just when the city was swollen with manic gold seekers who had set out for California. That is only part of the story that Gordon lays our with verve, eyewitness-level observation, and sound scholarly judgment in this, one of the best—and best illustrated—“one year” books I've seen. I find it both irresistible and indispensable.”
— Matthew Mancini, St. Louis University
“While the fire and cholera epidemic on 1849 are known to even casual students of St. Louis history, Gordon's book offer the first detailed study of both events. Bringing to light powerful firsthand accounts, he paints a vivid pictures of the citizens and cityscape of St. Louis devastated by dual calamities. A must-read for all lovers of local history.”
— Andrew Hahn, Campbell House Museum
“St. Louis's core identity emerged during a time when the city's beliefs were being challenged and boundaries were being forged. Gordon weaves the stories from this turbulent time into a legacy of the city's courage and triumph. Fire, Pestilence, and Death is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and strengths of this great American city.”
— Sherry L. Smith, Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum