Welcome to Historical Frictions, a historical fiction podcast, where we delving into the nitty-gritty of history, fiction, and everything in between, hosted by Hilary, Tess, and Lachlan.

This week Hilary read the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic in the novel The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue. As you will hear, this book does a lot of things, through the perspective of its protagonist Nurse Julie Power. Set in a Dublin Hospital, on a Lying in Ward for mothers with influenza, the book contains many similarities to our current COVID-19 world. 

Trigger warning: We mention pregnancy/childbirth trauma, including a stillbirth. It is not the focus of the episode but is discussed. (Note there are further, similar, trigger warnings if you choose to read the book itself!) There is also a discussion about LBGTI+ representation in media.

Recommended Reading:  

Ida Milne, Stacking the Coffins: Influenza, War and Revolution in Ireland, 1918-19 (2018)

Susan K. Kent, The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919: A Brief History with Documents (2012)

Elizabeth Hile, "LIKE BRAVE SOLDIERS:” NURSING AND THE SPANISH INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC OF 1918 IN THE UNITED STATES (Dissertation, avaliable here) 

Catriona Foley, "The Last Irish Plague: The Great Flu Epidemic in Ireland 1918—19"  Irish Academic Press (2011)

Sarah Moss review for The Guardian here

Australian Story, Spanish flu vs COVID-19: An Australian Perspective of a Pandemic (aired Mon 30th Nov) available here

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Tess, Lachlan, and Hilary would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land they live and work: Kaurna Country (Adelaide Plains) and the Gadigal of the Eora Nation (Sydney), and pay our respects to the Elders both past and present.