Rain of Ruin
Tokyo, Hiroshima and the Surrender of Japan
By Richard Overy | Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
About the book
A remarkable account of the terrible climax of the Second World War in Asia
A Telegraph Book of the Year 2025
'A short but quietly devastating book, in which Overy adds new perspectives to a subject that has often been approached from a narrowly American angle... Overy's book is a sombre reminder that the border between civilisation and savagery is wafer-thin.' - Philip Snow, Literary Review
In the closing months of the Second World War hundreds of thousands of Japanese, mostly civilians, died in a final outburst of violence from the air. American planes were beginning to run low on plausible targets when it was decided to use two atomic weapons in a final, terrible flourish to try to end the war.
Richard Overy’s remarkable new book rethinks how we should regard this last stage of the war and the role of the bombing. This book explores the way in which the willingness to kill civilians and destroy cities became normalized in the course of a horrific war as moral concerns were blunted and scientists, airmen, and politicians followed a strategy of mass destruction they would never have endorsed before the war began. But it also engages with the new scholarship that shows how complex the effort to end the war was in Japan, where ‘surrender’ was entirely foreign to Japanese culture.
Editions of Rain of Ruin
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780241700693
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781802065978
- EBook
- ISBN 9781802065985
Read an Excerpt
A remarkable account of the terrible climax of the Second World War in Asia
A Telegraph Book of the Year 2025
'A short but quietly devastating book, in which Overy adds new perspectives to a subject that has often been approached from a narrowly American angle... Overy's book is a sombre reminder that the border between civilisation and savagery is wafer-thin.' - Philip Snow, Literary Review
In the closing months of the Second World War hundreds of thousands of Japanese, mostly civilians, died in a final outburst of violence from the air. American planes were beginning to run low on plausible targets when it was decided to use two atomic weapons in a final, terrible flourish to try to end the war.
Richard Overy’s remarkable new book rethinks how we should regard this last stage of the war and the role of the bombing. This book explores the way in which the willingness to kill civilians and destroy cities became normalized in the course of a horrific war as moral concerns were blunted and scientists, airmen, and politicians followed a strategy of mass destruction they would never have endorsed before the war began. But it also engages with the new scholarship that shows how complex the effort to end the war was in Japan, where ‘surrender’ was entirely foreign to Japanese culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rain of Ruin about?
A remarkable account of the terrible climax of the Second World War in Asia
A Telegraph Book of the Year 2025
'A short but quietly devastating book, in which Overy adds new perspectives to a subject that has often been approached from a narrowly American angle... Overy's book is a sombre reminder that the border between civilisation and savagery is wafer-thin.' - Philip Snow, Literary Review
In the closing months of the Second World War hundreds of thousands of Japanese, mostly civilians, died in a final outburst of violence from the air. American planes were beginning to run low on plausible targets when it was decided to use two atomic weapons in a final, terrible flourish to try to end the war.
Richard Overy’s remarkable new book rethinks how we should regard this last stage of the war and the role of the bombing. This book explores the way in which the willingness to kill civilians and destroy cities became normalized in the course of a horrific war as moral concerns were blunted and scientists, airmen, and politicians followed a strategy of mass destruction they would never have endorsed before the war began. But it also engages with the new scholarship that shows how complex the effort to end the war was in Japan, where ‘surrender’ was entirely foreign to Japanese culture.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Rain of Ruin?
History and Archaeology > History > Military history > Specific wars and military campaigns > Second World War
Where can I read a sample of Rain of Ruin?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241700693
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Rain of Ruin?
Richard Overy
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Rain of Ruin is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780241700693) and paperback(ISBN 9781802065978) and ebook(ISBN 9781802065985)
Where can I buy Rain of Ruin online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Rain of Ruin from below
Where can I buy Rain of Ruin?