Biotic Borders: Transpacific Plant and Insect Migration and the Rise of Anti-Asian Racism in America, 1890–1950 by Jeannie N. Shinozuka (review)

Abstract

suls, diplomats, and public health officials involved in a transnational and multilingual exchange of information. Ermus displays considerable skill in conveying the complexity and nuances of these exchanges, particularly in explaining the mixed messages that originated in Marseille and in commenting on the timescales for the circulation of information. If these are the primary contributions of this book, there are also rich and fascinating discussions of themes that emerge from the case studies that it develops, particularly in chapter 5, which explores ideas about the relationship between illicit trade, disease, and violence in colonial contexts. This chapter also assesses the limited concern about smallpox on slave ships in colonial contexts, prompting reflection on the relationship of responses to plague and smallpox in this period. Overall, this impressive study reminds scholars working on the impact of disease of the importance of evaluating the geographical and political breadth of its reach.