Page 91 - All About History - Issue 54-17

Reviews

A SHORT HISTORY OF BRITAIN

IN INFOGRAPHICS

From Boudicca to Brexit in 300 illustrations

Author Ray Hamilton Publisher Summersdale Price £10 Released Out now

id you know that the Great Fire of London example, the author lists a number of crimes that
reached temperatures of 1,250 degrees Brits were transported to Australia for, including
Celsius? How about that approximately being an Irish rebel or stealing gingham in Halifax.
2,000 steam locomotives were produced These are illustrated with images of a clover
D each year during the Industrial Revolution? and patterned fabric respectively. In contrast, an
Or that it cost seven clothes rations to buy a pair infographic might have varied the size of these
of men’s shoes during the Blitz? A Short History images or used some similar method to visually
Of Britain In Infographics is filled with facts like compare how many Britons were punished
these, with sections on topics including Britain for these crimes.
through the ages, national landmarks and sporting Although this is a technical point, it does seem
achievements. However, rather than being a dry a major shortcoming for a book that calls itself
reference book, this guide is told with playful A Short History Of Britain In Infographics. It is
aplomb by Ray Hamilton and illustrated with notable that where Hamilton does include actual
modern, minimalist artwork. infographics, they are often based on 20th century
However, an issue that needs addressing is that statistics, so perhaps the problem is the lack of hard
few of the illustrations in this book are actually numbers for earlier historical events to draw on.
infographics. Currently very popular in the design While pedants like us might take issue with
world, infographics are an arty alternative to dull its title, this is a smart, stylish coffee book that is
bar charts; they should express data in a visual packed with enough British trivia to win a pub
way, rather than just be decorative pictures. For quiz championship – and that’s a fact.

PALE RIDER:

THE SPANISH FLU OF 1918 AND HOW

IT CHANGED THE WORLD
Why the killer virus shouldn’t be a footnote of WWI

Author Laura Spinney Publisher Jonathan Cape Price £20 Released Out now
he Spanish Flu pandemic is often to medicine and disease prevention and
appended to the history of World control significantly impacted the impact of
War I, yet the number of fatalities the virus on different communities.
eclipsed that of the conflict, with The name of the flu itself is actually a
T some estimates putting it as high misnomer as it is highly unlikely that the
as 100 million people. In this fascinating virus originated in Spain, and a number of
and engaging work, Laura Spinney draws theories as to its genesis are explored. The
on a century of research to give a detailed most prominent suggest that it was either
examination of the pandemic, its origins brought to Europe by the men of the Chinese
and its legacy. Labour Corps, originated in the British
Spinney provides a gripping narrative of military camp at Étaples in France, or started
how the illness spread across the world in in America and travelled east with the troops
waves, undoubtedly aided by infected troops sent to fight in the war.
returning home and ironically also helped by Whatever its cause, the flu had a lasting
the large peace celebrations marking the end legacy, and in the final section Spinney
of the war. Drawing on personal accounts, considers how it shaped and altered the
Spinney conveys the fear and desperation of events of the 20th century as well as the
the infected populations, compounded by the approach towards pandemic identification and
seeming inability of the medical profession to treatment. This is a highly readable book and
accurately diagnose and treat the pandemic. one that brings the Spanish flu firmly out of
The book highlights how different approaches the shadows as a defining event in history.
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