Between August 1918 and March 1919 the Spanish influenza spread worldwide, claiming over 25 million lives, more people than those perished in the fighting of the First World War. It proved fatal to at least a half-million Americans. Yet, the Spanish flu pandemic is largely forgotten today. In this vivid narrative, Alfred W. Crosby recounts the course of the pandemic during the panic-stricken months of 1918 and 1919, measures its impact on American society, and probes the curious loss of national memory of this cataclysmic event. In a new edition, with a new preface discussing the recent outbreaks of diseases, including the Asian flu and the SARS epidemic, America's Forgotten Pandemic remains both prescient and relevant. Alfred W. Crosby is a Professor Emeritus in American Studies, History and Geography at the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught for over 20 years. His previous books include Throwing Fire (Cambrige, 2002), the Measure of Reality (Cambridge, 1997) and Ecological Imperialism (cambridge, 1986). Ecological Imperialism was the winner of the 1986 Phi Beta Kappa book prize. The Measure of Reality was chosen by the Los Angeles Times as one of the 100 most important books of 1997.

"[This] is a definitive account of the 1918 influenza epidemic in the United States. Alfred Crosby has systematically covered the effect of influenza upon the armed forces, major cities, and American territories. Over and above this he has depicted the spread and impact of the disease over a good part of the world." Journal of the History of Medicine"[This] is a fine, galloping account of the influenza pandemic that killed some 25 million people in less than a year. In some ways it was a page out of the Middle Ages bound in the twentieth century. No plague ever killed so many people in so short a time." Natural History"[This] is a fine, galloping account of the influenza pandemic that killed some 25 million people in less than a year. In some ways it was a page out of the Middle Ages bound in the twentieth century. No plague ever killed so many people in so short a time." Natural History"Thoroughly researched and rich in detail, Crosby's book carefully narrates the rise and fall of the global pandemic, especially as it affected the United States." Medical History"Thoroughly researched and rich in detail, Crosby's book carefully narrates the rise and fall of the global pandemic, especially as it affected the United States." Medical History"...fascinating..." New York Sun

Between August 1918 and March 1919 the Spanish influenza claimed over 25 million lives - more people than perished in the fighting of the First World War. In this vivid narrative, Alfred W. Crosby recounts the course of the pandemic, measures its impact on American society, and probes the curious loss of national memory of this cataclysmic event. In a new edition, with a new preface discussing the recent outbreaks of diseases, including the Asian flu and the SARS epidemic, America's Forgotten Pandemic remains both prescient and relevant.

Tracing the influenza pandemic of 1918???1919 that claimed over 25 million lives worldwide.

Between August 1918 and March 1919 the Spanish influenza spread worldwide claiming over 25 million lives, more people than perished in the fighting of the First World War. It proved fatal to at least a half-million Americans. Yet, the Spanish flu pandemic is largely forgotten today. In this vivid narrative, Alfred W. Crosby recounts the course of the pandemic during the panic-striken months of 1918 and 1919, measures its impact on American society, and probes the curious loss of national memory of this cataclysmic event.

Part I. An Abrupt Introduction to Spanish Influenza: 1. The great shadow; Part II. Spanish Influenza: The First Wave - Spring and Summer, 1918: 2. The advance of the influenza virus; 3. Three explosions - Africa, Europe, and America; Part III. The Second and Third Waves: 4. The United States begins to take note; 5. Spanish Influenza sweeps the country; 6. Flu in Philadelphia; 7. Flu in San Francisco; 8. Flu at sea on voyage to France; 9. Flu and the American expeditionary force; 10. Flu and the Paris Peace Conference; Part IV. Measurements, Research, Conclusions, and Confusions: 11. Statistics, definitions, and speculations; 12. Samoa and Alaska; 13. Research, frustration, and the isolation of the virus; 14. Where did the flu of 1918 go?; Part V. Afterword; 15. An inquiry in the peculiarities of human memory.