About the book
With the world today on the brink of nuclear war- and Japan again in the nuclear firing line - award-winning author Paul Hamdescribes what happened last time an atomic bomb fell on two cities.
The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed more than 100,000 instantly, mostly women, children and the elderly. Many hundreds of thousands more succumbed to their horrific injuries later, or slowly perished of radiation-related sickness. Yet the bombs were ‘our least abhorrent choice’, American leaders claimed at the time - and still today most people believe they ended the Pacific War and saved millions of American and Japanese lives. Ham challenges this view, arguing that the bombings, when Japan was on its knees, were the culmination of a strategic Allied air war on enemy civilians that began in Germany and had till then exacted its most horrific death tolls in Dresden and Tokyo.
The war in Europe may have ended but it continued in the Pacific against a regime still looking to save face. Ham describes the political manoeuvring and the scientific race to build the new atomic weapon. He also gives powerful witness to its destruction through the eyes of eighty survivors, from 12-year-olds forced to work in war factories to wives and children who faced it alone, reminding us that these two cities were full of ordinary people who suddenly, out of a clear blue summer’s sky, felt the sun fall on their heads.
Editions of Hiroshima Nagasaki
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780732288464
- EBook
- ISBN 9780730497332
Read an Excerpt
With the world today on the brink of nuclear war- and Japan again in the nuclear firing line - award-winning author Paul Hamdescribes what happened last time an atomic bomb fell on two cities.
The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed more than 100,000 instantly, mostly women, children and the elderly. Many hundreds of thousands more succumbed to their horrific injuries later, or slowly perished of radiation-related sickness. Yet the bombs were ‘our least abhorrent choice’, American leaders claimed at the time - and still today most people believe they ended the Pacific War and saved millions of American and Japanese lives. Ham challenges this view, arguing that the bombings, when Japan was on its knees, were the culmination of a strategic Allied air war on enemy civilians that began in Germany and had till then exacted its most horrific death tolls in Dresden and Tokyo.
The war in Europe may have ended but it continued in the Pacific against a regime still looking to save face. Ham describes the political manoeuvring and the scientific race to build the new atomic weapon. He also gives powerful witness to its destruction through the eyes of eighty survivors, from 12-year-olds forced to work in war factories to wives and children who faced it alone, reminding us that these two cities were full of ordinary people who suddenly, out of a clear blue summer’s sky, felt the sun fall on their heads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hiroshima Nagasaki about?
With the world today on the brink of nuclear war- and Japan again in the nuclear firing line - award-winning author Paul Hamdescribes what happened last time an atomic bomb fell on two cities.
The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed more than 100,000 instantly, mostly women, children and the elderly. Many hundreds of thousands more succumbed to their horrific injuries later, or slowly perished of radiation-related sickness. Yet the bombs were ‘our least abhorrent choice’, American leaders claimed at the time - and still today most people believe they ended the Pacific War and saved millions of American and Japanese lives. Ham challenges this view, arguing that the bombings, when Japan was on its knees, were the culmination of a strategic Allied air war on enemy civilians that began in Germany and had till then exacted its most horrific death tolls in Dresden and Tokyo.
The war in Europe may have ended but it continued in the Pacific against a regime still looking to save face. Ham describes the political manoeuvring and the scientific race to build the new atomic weapon. He also gives powerful witness to its destruction through the eyes of eighty survivors, from 12-year-olds forced to work in war factories to wives and children who faced it alone, reminding us that these two cities were full of ordinary people who suddenly, out of a clear blue summer’s sky, felt the sun fall on their heads.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Hiroshima Nagasaki?
History and Archaeology > History > Military history > Specific wars and military campaigns > Second World War
Where can I read a sample of Hiroshima Nagasaki?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780732288464
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Hiroshima Nagasaki?
Paul Ham
Who is the Publisher of the book Hiroshima Nagasaki?
HarperCollins
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Hiroshima Nagasaki is available as paperback(ISBN 9780732288464) and ebook(ISBN 9780730497332)
Where can I buy Hiroshima Nagasaki online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Hiroshima Nagasaki?