The Fury of COVID-19

COVID-19 exposed weaknesses that had been present long before the virus arrived. Vinay Lal treats the pandemic as a historian would, tracing how it moved through societies that were already unequal. The Fury of COVID-19 examines governance, public health capacity, labour and migration, and the political uses made of the crisis. Lal's argument reaches past case numbers to ask what the response revealed about states, institutions and international cooperation. Anyone seeking medical guidance should consult a qualified health professional, since this is a work of social analysis rather than clinical advice. Where its strength lies: • A historian's reading of the pandemic's social consequences • Attention to inequality, governance and public institutions • Discussion of global cooperation and its practical limits • Written in clear prose aimed at the general reader Students of social science and current affairs will find this Pan Macmillan title a considered account, available at Boipoka.