Customer Reviews

Hunting the 1918 Flu: One Scientist's Search for a Killer Virus

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have long been interested in the 1918 influenza epidemic, and I began reading this book immediately after finishing "The Great Influenza" by John M. Barry. "The Great Influenza" is a very scholarly work that gives a great deal of background about the medical profession in 1918, conditions in the US during World War I, and truly stirring accounts of how viruses and the immune system work. When I started "Hunting the 1918 Flu," I was hoping for an expansion on the science of the epidemic. That's not what I got.

I was leery from the start because in the introductory material the author goes into considerable detail about her record-keeping and note-taking practices (to the extent of claiming there were witnesses present during many of her phone conversations regarding her project). I wondered, "Why is this woman so defensive?" I found that science is only peripherally addressed in her book; the main theme is how poorly she was treated by almost everyone except her fellow Canadians and the Norwegians she encountered. The Americans, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seem to be the bad guys in this story.

I tried hard to be open minded, but for the most part, I was unable to sympathize with the author. Every field of endeavor has its own politics, and it's not really very interesting to read about them. The author was a young woman, working in a field of study that was not her own, and at times her naivete shines like a beacon. It's not surprising that she was sometimes not taken seriously.

This book is very readable, and I'm sure the author is a very intelligent young woman. However, I think she would have served herself and her subject matter better by taking a more dispassionate tone. Her quest had the potential to be of true scientific value, and telling its story without all the histrionics would have made an interesting book.

I was initially worried that the book would be filled with complex scientific concepts, but everything was explained so that any reader could understand. The story about an expedition that was in danger of being stopped several times and the sheer determination of Dr. Duncan is inspiring. I also enjoyed learning about the people of Norway, who were so gracious and understanding of the importance of this expedition. I would highly recommend reading Hunting the 1918 Flu, as a reminder that history can and does repeat itself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The work involved in the project was fascinating to read. The description of the area where the project took place was vivid. The personalities involved added to the travails encountered in such an undertaking.