Review: The Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919: Perspectives from the Iberian Peninsula and the Americas by Mar Porras-Gallo and Ryan A Davis (editors)

Review copy from publisher via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

This is a very scientific, political, and academic look at the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919. The first chapter in particular is very medical and difficult for a lay person to grasp. The writing is dry and scholarly. It is very informative, but I was hoping for a more cultural and personal look at the pandemic's influence.

Each chapter is an essay by a different author assessing a different aspect or perspective of the pandemic. Over all, it is very focused on Portugal, Spain and Latin America, which was also a little disappointing. Although it's called the Spanish Flu, it impacted most of the world, but this book only covers certain areas. And while the subtitle does specify "Perspectives from the Iberian Peninsula and the Americas", I was assuming North America was included in that, which it wasn't.

So while it has merit, it was not entirely what I was expecting. It would probably be best suited to academics rather than mainstream readers.