And the Band Played on: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic - Randy Shilts

The national bestseller is now a major HBO TV movie, with stars including Alan Alda, Richard Gere, Lily Tomlin and Angelica Houston. A heroic work of journalism on what must rank as one of the foremost catastrophes of modern history (New York Times), this extraordinary book reveals how the federal government put budget considerations ahead of the nation's welfare. (Penguin) \nUpon it's first publication twenty years ago, And The Band Played on was quickly recognized as a masterpiece of investigative reporting. An international bestseller, a nominee for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and made into a critically acclaimed movie, Shilts' expose revealed why AIDS was allowed to spread unchecked during the early 80's while the most trusted institutions ignored or denied the threat. One of the few true modern classics, it changed and framed how AIDS was discussed in the following years. Now republished in a special 20th Anniversary edition, And the Band Played On remains one of the essential books of our time.