Hiroshima Introductory Info. Power Point

John Hersey’s Hiroshima : 

John Hersey’s Hiroshima Introductory Information

Just over fifty years ago, humans entered the atomic age. : 

Just over fifty years ago, humans entered the atomic age.

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In 1945 Hiroshima was a Japanese army base and an important port, with a population of about 350,000. The atomic bomb, which generated a powerful blast wind, destroyed buildings within a 1.5-mile radius.

In one blinding instant, a thriving, modern city became a man-made hell. : 

In one blinding instant, a thriving, modern city became a man-made hell.

The A Bomb Dome, the former Trade Promotion Hall, is one of the few buildings near the epicenter of the blast that still stands today. : 

The A Bomb Dome, the former Trade Promotion Hall, is one of the few buildings near the epicenter of the blast that still stands today.

John Hersey’s Hiroshima tells the story of that terrible day and its aftermath when the atomic bomb was first used in warfare. : 

John Hersey’s Hiroshima tells the story of that terrible day and its aftermath when the atomic bomb was first used in warfare.

On the Author: : 

On the Author: American journalist who had been born and raised in China to missionary parents Studied at Yale University Wrote for Time Magazine as a writer, editor, and war correspondent Served as a war correspondent from 1937-45 Pulitzer Prize-winning author

On the Author: : 

On the Author: Between 1945 and 1946, Hersey traveled to Japan to write about the people of Hiroshima and the aftermath of the atomic bomb

On the Publication of Hiroshima: : 

On the Publication of Hiroshima: originally published in the New Yorker magazine in the August 31, 1946 issue (one year after the bombings) original publication contained only the first four chapters

On the Publication of Hiroshima: : 

On the Publication of Hiroshima: Once on newsstands, Hiroshima sold out in just a few hours The New Yorker, which originally sold for $0.15 was scalped for up to $20!

The New Yorker issue: : 

The New Yorker issue: Contained none of the regular features, articles, or cartoon regular readers were accustomed to The editor who published Hiroshima in the New Yorker confessed, “I don’t think I’ve ever got as much satisfaction out of anything else in my life.”

The New Yorker issue: : 

The New Yorker issue: The editors’ note at the bottom of the first page read: “To our readers: The New Yorker this week devotes its entire editorial space to an article on the almost complete obliteration of a city by one atomic bomb, and what happened to the people of that city. It does so in the conviction that few of us have yet comprehended the all but incredible destructive power of this weapon, and that everyone might well take time to consider the terrible implications of its use.”

Hiroshima’s Focus: : 

Hiroshima’s Focus: Six residents of the city who survived the blast Hersey himself said, “I felt I would like to write about what happened not to the buildings but to the human beings.” “On a canvas whose broadbrush scenes were already familiar, Hersey etched several vividly realized foreground figures.”

Miss Toshiko Sasaki : 

Miss Toshiko Sasaki

Dr. Masakuzu Fujii : 

Dr. Masakuzu Fujii

Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura : 

Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura

Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge : 

Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge

Dr. Terufumi Sasaki : 

Dr. Terufumi Sasaki

Reverend Mr. Kiyoshi Tanimoto : 

Reverend Mr. Kiyoshi Tanimoto

Critical Reaction to Hiroshima : 

Critical Reaction to Hiroshima Hailed an instant classic Even supporters of the bomb felt that Hiroshima put a human face to the numbers and showed Americans why the bomb was so devastating Some critics argue that Hersey’s impartiality did not inspire enough outrage about the ethicality of nuclear weapons

Critical Reaction to Hiroshima : 

Critical Reaction to Hiroshima Some criticize the calm, dry tone of the work as “emotionless” or “apathetic” Hersey defended his approach: “The flat style was deliberate . . . A high literary manner, or a show of passion, would have brought me into the story as a mediator; I wanted to avoid such meditation, so the reader’s experience would be as direct as possible.”

On Hiroshima’s place in journalistic nonfiction: : 

On Hiroshima’s place in journalistic nonfiction: New York University’s school of journalism ranked Hiroshima as the #1 work of journalism in the 20th century Considered a “war classic”