Irish Fever by Meredith B. Linn Named an Outstanding Academic Title of 2024 by Choice Magazine
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (January 9, 2025) — The University of Tennessee Press is proud to announce that Irish Fever: An Archaeology of Illness, Injury, and Healing in New York City, 1845–1875 by Meredith B. Linn has been named an Outstanding Academic Title of 2024 by Choice Magazine. This prestigious recognition places Irish Fever among the top three percent of nearly 13,000 titles submitted to Choice during last year, underscoring its exceptional scholarship, presentation, and contribution to the field.
Linn’s groundbreaking work delves into the harrowing experiences of Irish immigrants who fled the devastation of the nineteenth-century Potato Famine. Landing in New York City, these individuals faced dangerous work, poor living conditions, and systemic biases that contributed to disproportionately high rates of illness, injury, and death. Drawing on archaeological records, folkloric sources, and historical documents, Linn uses a “visceral historical archaeology” approach to shed light on their health struggles and healing practices.
Choice recognized Irish Fever for its nuanced exploration of three afflictions—typhus fever, tuberculosis, and work-related injuries—and its compelling argument about how illness and bodily changes shaped perceptions of Irish immigrants in nineteenth-century America. Linn reveals how biases reinforced dehumanizing stereotypes, while also highlighting moments when illness fostered empathy and recognition of shared humanity.
“Meredith Linn’s Irish Fever exemplifies the kind of rigorous, thought-provoking scholarship that defines the University of Tennessee Press,” said Katie Hannah, director of UT Press. “We are honored that Choice has recognized this important contribution to historical archaeology and medical anthropology.”
Choice’s Outstanding Academic Titles list is an annual recognition of the best of the best in academic publishing, highlighting works that demonstrate excellence in scholarship, significance to their field, and value to both academic and broader audiences. Of the more than 3,400 titles reviewed by Choice in 2024, only 438 were selected for this honor.
About the Author
MEREDITH B. LINN is associate professor of historical archaeology at the Bard Graduate Center. She is coauthor, with Nan A. Rothschild and Diana diZerega Wall, of An Archaeological Investigation of the Seneca Village Site.
About the University of Tennessee Press
Founded in 1940, The University of Tennessee Press is the Volunteer State’s book publisher, committed to preserving and promoting the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of Tennessee and the region. Through their focused publishing program, they strive to deepen appreciation for the communities, ecosystems, and histories that make the state unique. Ultimately, their mission is to enlighten readers, foster cultural dialogue, and improve the quality of life for the people of Tennessee and around the world.
For more information, visit UT Press online at utpress.org, or contact utpress@utk.edu.
University of Tennessee Press Announces Transition to Longleaf Services as New Distributor
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (January 8, 2025) — The University of Tennessee Press (UT Press) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Longleaf Services as its distributor, effective February 1, 2025. This transition marks an important step in UT Press’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its reach and efficiency in serving readers, bookstores, and libraries across the globe.
After years of valued collaboration with Chicago Distribution Center, UT Press looks forward to joining Longleaf Services, a nonprofit company providing a robust array of services tailored specifically for university presses.
“The University of Tennessee Press happily joins the mission-driven community of presses employing Longleaf Services,” said Katie Hannah, Director of UT Press. “After a meticulous deliberation process, we chose Longleaf because of their array of umbrella services; their relationship with a crucial trading partner, Ingram; and their record of excellent customer service.”
Longleaf Services, based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, provides a comprehensive suite of services to nonprofit scholarly publishers, including fulfillment, marketing, and financial services. Their strong industry connections, particularly with Ingram Content Group—a critical trading partner for UT Press—further solidify the benefits of this new collaboration.
This strategic move aligns with UT Press’s mission of advancing and disseminating scholarship while serving a diverse audience. By partnering with Longleaf, UT Press aims to enhance operational efficiency and improve the availability of its publications across a wide range of retail and academic markets.
UT Press looks forward to a fruitful new chapter for all its stakeholders, including authors, booksellers, and readers. Further details regarding the transition will be communicated in the coming weeks.
About the University of Tennessee Press
Founded in 1940, The University of Tennessee Press is the Volunteer State’s book publisher, committed to preserving and promoting the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of Tennessee and the region. Through their focused publishing program, they strive to deepen appreciation for the communities, ecosystems, and histories that make the state unique. Ultimately, their mission is to enlighten readers, foster cultural dialogue, and improve the quality of life for the people of Tennessee and around the world.
About Longleaf Services
Longleaf Services, Inc. provides publishing services to university presses and other nonprofit publishers. Founded in 2006, Longleaf supports its client publishers with a comprehensive suite of solutions, including warehousing, order fulfillment, and customer service, enabling them to focus on their core missions of advancing scholarship and education.
For more information, visit utpress.org. Contact the University of Tennessee Press at utpress@utk.edu or 865-974-3321.
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