"A masterpiece on man’s battle with microbes. . . . Every page gives a wealth of new information on the history of man from the perspective of infectious diseases. If you only buy a single book this year, buy this one. It will change your view on world history for ever."
— Elin Ørjasæter, Nettavisen, on the Norwegian edition
"Frøland takes us on a fascinating journey through hundreds of thousands of years, from the dawn of humanity to the exploration of space. The book contains a wealth of interesting information and historical descriptions which makes it both easy to read and thrilling. It is difficult to put it down."
— Bård Hauge, Dagen, on the Norwegian edition
"An exciting, interesting, and thorough survey of the battle with microbes throughout our entire history . . . [written in] elegant and accessible language which is comprehensible to everyone. . . . A magnificent work."
— Håkon Sjursen, professor of infectious diseases, University of Bergen, Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association, on the Norwegian edition
"An excellent book on the large pandemics through history. . . . Demonstrates in a brilliant way how modern biomedical research has contributed to the battle against microbes."
— Nils Chr. Stenseth, professor of ecology and evolution, University of Oslo, and Albert Einstein Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences
"In
Duel Without End, Frøland explores the never-ending struggle between humans and microbes in a fascinating voyage of discovery, breakthroughs, and setbacks. . . . The writing is superb, providing a wealth of detail but keeping a fast pace and a sense of humor—with pop culture references aplenty. . . . But what truly sets this book apart is that it is written not by a historian, but by a professor of medicine who specializes in infectious diseases. It brings a lifetime of medical knowledge to a history book, and creates a middle way between art and science. . . . It is informative, original, and refreshing, and the strongest argument for interdisciplinary working that I have seen."
— Get History
"This highly readable and informative account will be of interest to both general readers and specialists fascinated by infectious diseases or the history of medicine. Highly recommended."
— Choice
"Frøland’s copiously illustrated book, while steeped in compelling historical detail, is topical, touching on COVID-19, biological warfare , and terrorism. As Frøland’s book (currently my book of the year by some margin) reminds us, it’s not a matter of if there will be another pandemic, but when."
— Fortean Times
"A sweeping account of an important subject. . . . Despite the depressing subject matter, this is a fascinating book of history and medical history, one that explores the social, economic, and even sexual context of the human race and its fight against disease."
— Independent
"This book, driven by his interest in history and backed by his medical expertise, provides a good all-round introduction to the history of infectious diseases and the many ways in which we have sought to prevent and cure them. . . . Frøland brings relevant expertise to the table thanks to his medical background. . . . A level-headed, measured approach characterizes much of the book, complemented by a healthy dose of myth-busting. . . . As usual with publications from Reaktion Books, the book is richly illustrated. . . . There is so much interesting historical material here that the book grips you in its own way. Overall then, Duel Without End is a broad, all-round introduction to the history of epidemics and pandemics that favors level-headed discussion over hyperbole."
— Inquisitive Biologist
Won
— CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title, 2023