Epidemic and peace 1918 an abrupt introduction to spanish influenza the great shadow spanish influenza the first wave spring and summer 1918 the advance of the influenza virus three explosions africa europe and america the second and third waves. This is an excellent report on the flu pandemic of 1918 1919 crosby details the origins of the epidemic in kansas and then goes on to describe how the epidemic affected different aspects of life during this time the military civilians in the cities eskimos in isolated communities the paris peace talks and finally the life and death of president wilson crosby explains in detail the spread of the disease who it affected and how it affected people as well as how many people died using e. Epidemic and peace 1918 manages to do this in part crosby tells how the influenza epidemic of 1918 1919 came at a crucial time in world war i when the germans were attempting to split the allied forces while the allies were desperately trying to hold them back until the americans arrived. Epidemic and peace 1918 documents the effects of the deadly spanish influenza which swept along the united states coasts during the last months of world war i