Pale Rider

The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World

By: Laura Spinney

Narrated by: Paul Hodgson

In 1918, the Italian-Americans of New York, the Yupik of Alaska, and the Persians of Mashed had almost nothing in common except for a virus - one that triggered the worst pandemic of modern times and had a decisive effect on the history of the 20th century.

The Spanish flu of 1918-1920 was one of the greatest human disasters of all time. It infected a third of the people on Earth - from the poorest immigrants of New York City to the king of Spain, Franz Kafka, Mahatma Gandhi, and Woodrow Wilson. But despite a death toll of between 50 and 100 million people, it exists in our memory as an afterthought to World War I.

In this gripping narrative history, Laura Spinney traces the overlooked pandemic to reveal how the virus travelled across the globe, exposing mankind's vulnerability and putting our ingenuity to the test. As socially significant as both world wars, the Spanish flu dramatically disrupted - and often permanently altered - global politics, race relations, and family structures while spurring innovation in medicine, religion, and the arts. It was partly responsible, Spinney argues, for pushing India to independence, South Africa to apartheid, and Switzerland to the brink of civil war. It also created the true "lost generation". Drawing on the latest research in history, virology, epidemiology, psychology, and economics, Pale Rider masterfully recounts the little-known catastrophe that forever changed humanity.

©2017 Laura Spinney (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Impressive.... Set against the devastating backdrop of global contagion, it is individual lives and deaths, discovered in letters, diaries, biographies and memoirs, that epitomize this rich account. Spinney invokes potent images.... Along with exemplary research, Spinney's narrative is packed with fascinating, quirky detail.... As the centenary of this monumental event approaches, other volumes on the pandemic will undoubtedly appear. Pale Rider sets the bar very high." ( Nature)

"A vividly recreated, grimly fascinating book.... Coolly, crisply, and with a consistently sharp eye for the telling anecdote...Spinney demonstrates how Spanish flu cast a long, dark shadow over the 20th century." ( The Daily Mail)

extremely informative; must read

this book goes into the mechanics of a flu pandemic. I found it extremely informative and I feel like I understand the reality of flu. I like how the author ties the rise of the Trump family to the 1918 flu pandemic.

Must read !

pandemic, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture ----
Impressive body of work. Much more comprehensive yet detailed than any other writings on this subject that I have read, it is not just a statistical report but a compilation of information gleaned from writings from many countries around the globe. The majority of other readings are focused on Europe and North America, while this includes translations from China, Russia, South America, and anywhere else afflicted. The role of The Great War in its transmission is explored as well. The devastation left behind by this pandemic amounted to a great deal more than the casualties of the war. I feel that this should be required reading for all healthcare workers as well as historians.
I have the audio interpreted by Paul Hodgson who was truly remarkable.

Narrator was horrible

He has an unnatural, annoying cadence. Sounds like a machine. So unpleasant to listen to I had a hard time focusing on what he was saying. I finally gave up and switched to an e book. I will remember his name and avoid it in the future.

Required Pandemic Reading

I learned so much about the current pandemic from this book. It helped me to see many positive possibilities that can come from this mess.

history repeats itself

I always knew that history of repeated itself but I never had any idea that that could still be true when it came to illness. A fascinating history of influenza and its impact on the world. although the focus is on the Spanish flu, this book is truly amazing and the overall picture of a pandemic. excellent!

Required reading

How did we ever-as a civilization-forget about the 1918 flu?? This should be required reading for all, and especially now during the pandemic. The parallels are uncanny, but more so our response to a shared threat and our collective behavior. Urge everyone you know (regardless of political bend) to read this book. It is an enlightening experience.

Now more than ever

What a beautiful book! It is a horrific topic but
Oh how important it is to think about The Great
Influenza and how it changed the world. And how we are still finding new pieces of history
that change the way we look at WW1 and the history of epidemics.

2020 Prescience. Pale Rider, the Spanish Flu

This book is incredibly relevant to the times we are now living through. First, it posits another visitation of a deadly pandemic, and here we find ourselves. It is remarkably prescient in that regard. I suppose it was inevitable.

Second, it outlines the possible preventative and mitigation strategies that could have been undertaken to contain it but were not until it was too late, largely for political and religious reasons. Sound familiar?

And third, it shows the historical context of this hideous disease, both pre- and post-pandemic. The pre-pandemic context is very much what we have been contending with in 2020. The post-pandemic context of our current debacle, of course, remains to be seen.

I cannot recommend this book too highly. It is well-researched, and it is written like the most compelling fiction. What a story!

Deja vu

Fascinating read in the midst of COVID-19. I read The Great Influenza first and followed with The Pale Rider. Stark reminders of how little we have learned from our history with pandemics.

Pre Covid

Very interesting and informative, especially in light of covid. Highly recommend as it is eye opening and thoughtful.