Highway of Death

The Highway of Death, first published in 1916, is the chilling account of the Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia (a tragic, largely forgotten aspect of the First World War) as viewed by American Red Cross surgeon Earl Bishop Downer. Based in Belgrade, he describes the bitter back-and-forth fighting for control of this capitol city, the devastating artillery barrages, the doctors and nurses trying to treat the endless stream of wounded combatants, and a typhus epidemic that ravaged soldiers and civilians alike. Included are 34 pages of illustrations.