|
A good book with a Philadelphia flavor |
|
|
|
|
Written by John Ellingsworth
|
|
Wednesday, 07 July 2004 |
I've just read a good book.
"The Great Influenza" by John M. Barry, 2004.
It's about the 1918 Flu Pandemic that killed more people worldwide than WW I did. I saw the author on C-Span a couple of months ago talking about it and it intrigued me enough to buy it.
Philadelphia was one of the worst cities hit in the 1918 Flu Pandemic. On October 16, 1918, almost 4,500 people died.....all in one day.
There is a couple entire chapters dealing with Philadelphia's woes.
It's a big book, it's wordy and it takes it time to lay the groundwork for the story and establish the cast of characters, but it's well worth sticking with.
BTW, if you go to
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/philadelphia/obits2.htm
And look at all the October obituaries, you will that almost every one of them lists "influenza" or "pneumonia" as the cause of death.. Sobering, indeed. |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 March 2008 )
|
