Hiroshima_ The World's Bomb - Andrew J. Rotter [0]
THE MAKING OF THE MODERN WORLD
This group of narrative histories focuses on key moments and events in the twentieth century to explore their wider significance for the development of the modern world.
PUBLISHED:
The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940, Julian Jackson A Bitter Revolution: China’s Struggle with the Modern World, Rana Mitter Dynamic of Destruction: Culture and Mass Killing in the First World War, Alan Kramer
FORTHCOMING:
The Vietnam Wars: A Global History, Mark Bradley Algeria: The Undeclared War, Martin Evans
SERIES ADVISERS:
Professor Chris Bayly, University of Cambridge Professor Richard J. Evans, University of Cambridge Professor David Reynolds, University of Cambridge
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© Andrew J. Rotter 2008
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First published 2008
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Data available Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Rotter, Andrew Jon.
Hiroshima: the world’s bomb / Andrew J. Rotter. p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-280437-2 1. Atomic bomb—History. I. Title.
QC773.R67 2008 355.8’25ii90904—dc22 2007045146
Typeset by SPI Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India Printed in Great Britain on acid-free paper by Clays Ltd, St Ives plc
ISBN 978-0-i9-280437-2
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
To my daughters, Sophie and Phoebe Rotter.
Praise for Hiroshima
‘An engaging and exceptionally skillful combination of the scientific, technological, military, diplomatic, political, and cultural history of the atomic bomb in an international context. By any standard, a terrific book.’
J. Samuel Walker, author of Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs against Japan
‘In a smart, useful, and beautifully written book, Rotter treats the atomic bombing of Japan in its multinational context. Synthesizing a huge literature, he concisely shows in how many ways this truly was the world’s bomb.’
Laura Hein, Northwestern University, and author of Living with the Bomb
‘A profound look at one of mankind’s most significant (and tragic) events... diplomats and their politician bosses should read this work for an understanding of the dire outcomes that diplomacy—and a lack thereof— can reap.’
Thomas W Zeiler, University of Colorado, and author of Unconditional Defeat: Japan, America, and the End of World War II
Acknowledgements
I never intended to write a book on the atomic bomb, but when David Reynolds emailed out of the blue, as it were, in the summer of 2001 and asked me to write one for a new Oxford series, I could not resist his invitation. I have appreciated his support and advice throughout the