Barry, John M. The great influenza; the story of the deadliest pandemic in history.

BARRY, John M. The great influenza; the story of the deadliest pandemic in history. Read by Scott Brick. 16 cds. 19.5 hrs. Books on Tape. 2004/2005. 1-4159-3020-1. $89.60. Vinyl; content notes. SA

Barry began his research intending to focus on how Americans coped with the twin overlapping burdens of WW I and the influenza outbreak of 1918. What he learned so stunned him that he changed directions. The result is a riveting account of a natural, political, and social disaster of such proportion that the fictional medical-techno-horror thrillers of Michael Crichton and Robin Cook pail by comparison. At a time when there were few public health standards and when medical knowledge was near medieval, anywhere from 21 to 100 million people died worldwide in this pandemic, 50% of them able-bodied 20- to 30-year-olds. The disease began at a Kansas military base. Despite its virulence, the government's wartime propaganda machine would tolerate no lowering of US morale. It ignored the staggering death count, lied to the public and kept the troops--and the disease--moving, all over the world.

Scott Brick, his voice involuntarily quavering now and again with sadness and outrage, makes the most of the author's use of incremental repetition. Each time he says "it was only influenza," he raises bigger goose bumps. Expect to be appalled. Francine Levitov, Attorney, New York, NY

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.