The Ghost Map

The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World

In the summer of 1854, a sudden and devastating cholera outbreak struck London, killing hundreds of residents within days. Medical pioneer John Snow mapped the cases to a single water pump on Broad Street, fundamentally changing how science understands disease transmission. This historical account examines the intersection of urban growth, public health, and scientific inquiry during the Victorian era. The narrative illustrates how the crisis ultimately transformed modern city infrastructure and epidemiology.

by Steven Johnson

Riverhead Hardcover · First published 2006 · 320 pages