The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry

[gilda_elise]

At the height of WWI, history's most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four months than AIDS killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision of science and epidemic disease. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research and now revised to reflect the growing danger of the avian flu, The Great Influenza is ultimately a tale of triumph amid tragedy, which provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon.

In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, “–the more things change, the more they stay the same…” Truer words were never spoken, especially when you compare the reactions of those in power then to those now. Now, as then, you had a president who ignored the pandemic, too focused on other matters (at least with Wilson it was a world war.) Now, as then, you had local officials downplaying the disease. Now, as then, many doctors were ignored or, worse, vilified for trying to get out the truth. Now, as then, people continued to travel (though many being soldiers had no choice in the matter.)

But the book starts with the history of medicine, and where the medical establishment was in 1918. At least in that we are better off. From there it dives into the pandemic, where it started and how it spread. Ironically, the flu probably started in the US, at or near a military base in Kansas, not Spain, and was spread by the soldiers. It came to be known as the Spanish Flu because, since Spain was neutral, it was about the only country allowing the media to tell the truth about the illness.

It also covers all the medical experts who fought the disease, many of who would later be lauded as they continued their careers.

It’s an interesting and fact-filled book that probably most people should read. In 1918 a deadly pandemic spread through the world, killing millions. It’s happen again now. It will definitely happen again in the future. We should be prepared.




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1. The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History



1. The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History



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Comments

[mabiana.livejournal.com]

I can't remember hearing about the Spanish Flu in history at school and I seem not to be an exception, as now having read a book on it at the beginning of covid I usually am the only one with some remotely deeper knowledge. It seems to me a big mistake omitting it like that in school here, and rather baffling, considering the number of victims.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I don't remember hearing about it in school, either. It wasn't until I was in my 20s that I became aware of it, probably through some special on tv. And it's not as if it's being told about all that much now. It does make me wonder that, if COVID fades away the way the Spanish Flu did, we'll forget about all the lessons learned again.

[wpadmirer.livejournal.com]

What a terrifying thing that must have been. I think we can only now understand it.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

And COVID hasn't been anywhere near as fatal. Though considering how things are going, it appears things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

I read this book last April - I was impressed by the clear way medical technology of the time was explained, the history, and - I hoped we wouldn't go this path - the reasons why people ignored and denied and covered up what was happening. Just the idea of those death ships and coffin trains - utterly chilling.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I liked how much information the author gave us. Not just about the Flu, itself, but the stages the medical profession had gone through, and where it was at the time.

It was a lot worse than what we're going through, which makes our casual disregard for it just that much more troubling. How would we have reacted if COVID had been just as bad, or worse?

[lee-the-t.livejournal.com]

I read Gina Kolata's "Flu" some years back. I don't remember hearing ANYTHING about the 1918 epidemic in school. I was astonished when I first heard about it (as an adult). It's a fascinating topic (and timely). Her book is good. Maybe I'll get this one too and compare. :-)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think it was covered at all. Hell, I don't remember them covering WW1. Of course, we rarely got past the Civil War.

Sounds like a good idea. I may have to pick up Flu. Now, that sounds odd. *g*

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

It certainly was so very deadly and coming when it did it must have been even more devastating. I imagine there were plenty of people who really felt it was the end of civilisation.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. It would have been like what those who experienced the Black Plague would have thought. At least the medical profession had a clue, though it didn't do much good at the time. There was no treatment, and certainly no cure.