Stacking the coffins: Influenza, war and revolution in Ireland, 1918–19

by Ida Milne

The 1918-19 influenza pandemic disrupted Irish society and politics. Stilling cities and towns as it passed through, it closed schools, courts and libraries, quelled trade, crammed hospitals, and stretched medical doctors to their limit as they treated hundreds of patients each day. It became
part of a major row between nationalists and the Government over interned anti-conscription campaigners. When one campaigner died days before the 1918 general election, Sinn fein swiftly incorporated his death into their campaign. Survivors interviewed by the author tell what it was like to suffer
from this influenza; families of the bereaved speak of the change to their lives. Stacking the coffins is the first Irish history of the disease to include statistics to analyse which groups were most affected. It also draws on the memories of child sufferers telling their stories.

Genres: History, Ireland, Nonfiction

280 pages, Hardcover

Published May 22, 2018

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with what score to give this book. For information and depth of study this is an amazing book. In my opinion though it’s not easily accessible for the lay reader. It’s written more towards those readers in academia. I could see dissertation format in the prose of the writing. It definitely provides a unique insight and a depth of knowledge that has largely been ignored. I based my rating on the content, I personally feel that the writing can be off-putting to those not in an academic field.

[Aoiffe Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baring in mind the Spanish Flu epidemic was over a hundred years ago it was rather scary to read this book and realise that despite the advances in medicine over the years little has changed in the approach to our current pandemic. A well researched and put together book. It's well worth reading even if it just to get a glimpse of the longterm, far reaching affects a pandemic,when mishandled, can have.

[SM · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful blend of accessible, readable prose for the general reader but extensively referenced and filled with statistics and analysis for the academic. Also brings together interviews with survivors, first hand sources from the period as well as the authors own in-depth analysis to provide a detailed and relatable account of the events which still resonate today

[Ciara H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book with obvious correlations to the current situation.
Very easy to read, the social information is much more interesting than the political to me. That said, there is incredible detail and knowledge throughout.
I really liked it, right up my street.

[Stephen Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for research but not to accessible for a lay reader.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book detailing the horrible realities of the Spanish Flu in Ireland. I enjoyed that a chapter was dessicated to people's personal experiences and memories of the Spanish flu.

[Eithne Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

An academic piece of writing. Fabulous research on an unresearched area. In the end it told me more than I wanted to know about things I was less interested in, and less than I wanted to know about things I was more interested in: how has it come that we have heard so much about flying columns on their keeping all over the country, and not a word about how many of them brought diseases with them?
I might have to write that book myself! Anyone give me an advance?