From Publishers Weekly
With his customary flair for high drama, trenchant characterizations and journalistic savvy, French author Lapierre ( City of Joy ) tells the story of the global battle against the AIDS epidemic as no one has told it before. In this extraordinary, deeply moving book, Mother Theresa's work supervising New York City's first hospice for AIDS victims provides the spiritual anchor of a narrative that hops from Calcutta to Paris's Pasteur Institute to Atlanta's Center for Disease Control, where microbe hunters struggle to overcome an "artful and discreet" adversary, the AIDS virus. Lapierre interweaves dozens of personal dramas as he records researchers' frantic efforts, patients' mental anguish and the odyssey of Sister Ananda, former Indian leper who went on to heroic efforts in caring for persons with AIDS. 100,000 first printing; $150,000 ad/promo; first serial to Vanity Fair; Literary Guild featured alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Library Journal
The AIDS epidemic is well into its second decade, and with it comes a growing body of "AIDS literature." Inspired in part by the opening of an AIDS hospice in Manhattan in early 1986 by Mother Teresa, Lapierre, author of The City of Joy ( LJ 11/1/85), chronicles the early rush in the 1980s to identify the AIDS virus and the attempt to help those afflicted with the disease. The protagonists of this story are many, ranging from French scientists to Indian nuns to American hospital workers to the early victims who participated in various experiments that led to the use of AZT. Reminiscent of Randy Shilts's And the Band Played On ( LJ 11/15/87) in its broad sweep, sense of drama, and cast of memorable characters, the book, however, avoids Shilts's partisanship and, in striving to be fair, risks sounding tepid at times. But Lapierre is a master storyteller who has found a subject worthy of his skills and creates a compelling work. An essential acquisition for all nonfiction collections with a general readership. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/90; see also Robert Gallo's Virus Hunting , reviewed above and Robert M. Wachter's The Fragile Coalition , reviewed below.--Ed.
- Richard Drezen, Merrill Lynch Capital Markets Lib., New YorkCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.