Hiroshima – ushering in the nuclear era

[lallison]

Last Sunday, I started reading a book called Hiroshima, by John Hersey. First published in 1946, it is a journalistic account of the atomic bomb drop on Hiroshima. It gives the detailed stories about the experiences of half a dozen blast survivors and what happened to them that day and the weeks and the years after. I had never heard of this book before, until I found it in a friend of mine’s classroom (he teaches world history), and after asking about it, he strongly recommended I read it. I’m about half finished at this point, and the story is heart wrenching and terrifying. It reminds me of the TV movie “The Day After,” and a number of other nuclear holocaust stories, only this is the real thing, the original. I am curious to know if many other people have read this book and what their thoughts are on it.

[dfloyd]

I believe he won the Pulitzer for A Bell for Adano. In any event, it's one of his better novels. Very good. Another one to read is The Wall; it is about the Jewish gheto in Warsaw during WWII. A very, very good book.

My copy orf Hiroshima has illustrations which you have to see, one can't describe them. It is bound in solid black Nigerian goat skin with HIROSHIMA blind stamped on the front cover. It is one of an edition of 1500 and is signed by Hershey. Hershey passed away recently and this copy, if you can find one, sells for $1,000 plus.

John Hershey is very underated. He was a Fine author.

[Dodo25]

I've read it, it's very moving, I'd highly recommend it too. And it contains the most powerful sentence I've ever read: the ending of chapter one.

[lallison]

Just had the time to finish it yesterday, very stirring and relevant in today's world. Frightening as well, especially considering how many times more powerful today's nuclear weapons are then the one dropped on Hiroshima. It's easy to see why the book is often required reading in social studies classrooms. I love it when I discover a book like this that I never knew existed. I will be keeping an eye out for more Hersey.

dfloyd, your copy sounds amazing! I wish I could see the illustrations. Are you a book collector? I can remember seeing A Bell for Adano when I worked in the public library in high school, but I never gave it much thought at the time. I will keep an eye out for both books you suggested.

Dodo25, "There, in the tin factory, in the first moment of the atomic age, a human being was crushed by books." Yes, it does really grab you, doesn't it.

Thanks!

[dfloyd]

a bibliomaniac. Books come before food or other unnecessaries. Right now I'm paring done my collection to only books published by the Limited Editions Club which published most of the major classics from 1929 to 1984. And when I can't find an edition in great shape, I'm into rebinding with Nigerian goatskin and hand marbled paper.

[lallison]

bibliomaniac, that's a new one for me, but I like it! What a cool hobby. I've looked around a few novelty book stores out of curiosity, but don't really know what to look for in terms of value. Although I do still have a nice comic collection from when I was in middle school. I'll have to catalog it one day. Very interesting things people do with their spare time. thanks.

[TheFifthElement]

Sounds like an interesting book lallison. I'm currently reading a book called Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse which covers both the Hiroshima bombing and the prejudice suffered by the survivors afterwards. It's chilling stuff, and an excellent read. It's made me want to read more about what happened, so I'll be keeping a look out for the book you've mentioned here. Thanks :)

[dfloyd]

remember that the Japanese were ruled by an industrial/military regime before and during WWII. I spent two years in Japan, and I think the Japanese now understand why we dropped those bombs. The attitude at the time was for the Japanese to fight until the death, which they did on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. We had to drop two bombs to get their attention. Emperor Hirohito had to overcome his advisors for the surrender of Japan. The truth is, without Atomic weaponry, the casualties would have been greater if we had invaded Japan. The estimate of 1,000,000 American lives lost through an invasion is what decided President Truman to drop the two bombs. Several of the Japanese military, such as Tojo, were hung afterwards as war criminals, and the rape of Shanghai by the Japanese was their responsibility for which they paid with their lives.

[TheFifthElement]

Actually Black Rain is not really critical of the bomb, it's more critical of the war. There's a couple of quotes which stuck in my mind so far. One was from the main character Shigematsu who, when travelling through Hiroshima trying to get coal supplies and growing angry at all the death around him says: 'rather an unjust peace than a 'just' war'; and another where he overheard some soldiers who were disposing of bodies saying: 'if only we lived in a country and not a state'. This was written by a Japanese citizen and although I've not finished the book yet my impression is that it's far more critical of the Japanese state role in the war than the Americans who dropped the bomb. About the bomb there is only confusion.

It's a very powerful book. A sad indictment of war in which there are only victims, all sides.

[lallison]

I'll try to have a look around for Black Rain next time I'm at a book store, it sounds like an interesting book. Hiroshima also addresses the prejudice issues that arose from all the sickness and adverse effects that the bomb survivors suffered from. The bomb changed the lives of people around the world, but not nearly with the tragedy of those who suffered directly. Many of the stories illustrate a real inner strenght of character inspirational in the same way hearing the stories of holocaust survivors demands admiration for what the human spirit can endure and move beyond.

I have a number of Japanese friends who I worked together with when I was in The US Peace Corps. Whenever talking about the war, the general response I've seen has been disgust with Japan's aggression. Hiroshima also made clear that the Japanese military had already dug in and was preparing to fight to the death down to a man before surrendering. I can't remember ever hearing much strong criticism with the decision to use the A-bomb.