The First World War is coming to an end, and another catastrophe claims millions of lives: the Spanish flu. Within a few weeks, one-third of the world's population falls ill. Nevertheless, the effects on society, politics, and culture remain largely unknown. Whether in Europe, Asia, or Africa, in many places the flu disrupted power dynamics, possibly influencing the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles and sparking modernization movements. Through the stories of individuals from around the globe, Laura Spinney unveils the panorama of this era. She fills a significant gap in historical writing and offers a completely new perspective on the fateful year of 1918.