Hiroshima

M.G. Sheftall’s Hiroshima presents as a master class in eyewitness storytelling. As poignant as it is powerful, this gripping narrative chronicles one of history’s darkest nightmare moments-the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945-and the memories of its surviving eyewitnesses. As the events fade from living memory, Hiroshima is at once a brilliant tribute and a cautionary tale. – Annie Jacobsen, author of Nuclear War: A Scenario A compelling analysis of the suffering endured by the citizens of Hiroshima in the aftermath of the dropping of the nuclear bomb on 6 August 1945. Written by a scholar who lives and works in Japan, and who has interviewed many of the last survivors, this is a book that offers valuable insights into Japanese thinking during the war and the subsequent struggle to rebuild the country. – Laurence Rees, author of Auschwitz and The Holocaust M. G. Sheftall takes us on a deep dive into one of the most significant and horrific events in world history. Hiroshima is a gripping, moving story of fear and shame, courage and grace, and a powerful argument that we should never, ever use these weapons again. – Evan Thomas, author of Road to Surrender: Three Men and the Countdown to the End of World War II For those who want to understand what happened underneath the mushroom cloud - and shouldn’t we all? - Sheftall’s sweeping, sensitive and deeply researched book is required reading for our human hearts. * Washington Post * Painful in substance but lyrical in form, Hiroshima should be required reading for political leaders, those interested in war and peace, and anyone who has grown numb to the specific horrors of World War II. * BookPage (starred) * A carefully and respectfully researched oral history…[the book] tells [the hibakusha’s] stories, in all their ruthless violence and gory pathos, but, most important, as a cautionary tale about the perils of nuclear warfare. * The Associated Press * What also separates Hiroshima from other accounts is the amount of time, patience and trust Sheftall gives to each hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor) he meets. * Japan Today *

M. G. Sheftall has lived in Japan since 1987. He has a PhD in international relations and modern Japanese history from Waseda University in Tokyo. Since 2001, he has been a professor of modern Japanese cultural history and communication at the Faculty of Informatics of Shizuoka University. He lives in Hamamatsu, Japan.

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