Hiroshima: The Shadow of the Bomb

by Richard L. Tames

Designed to tie in with the National Curriculum, this study of Hiroshima is one of a series examining major historical watersheds. The book recounts the chain of events leading up to the dropping of the bomb, and the repurcussions, both immediate and long-term. It also discusses the concept of an historical turning point, assessing in what way this really was one. Interpretations throughout aim to show how history is informed by a complicated web of divergent views.

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Richard Lawrence Tames, born 30 January 1946, lectures on history at Syracuse University London and is a Blue Badge guide.

Tames is also a Lecturer on London’s history for the Institute of Tourist Guiding. He has written over twenty books on different aspects of English history, including Shakespeare’s London on 5 Groats a Day.

Reviews

[Katie Carson · Rating 2 out of 5]

My review of this book may be biased. I read Hiroshima: The Shadow of the Bomb as part of an assignment to compare a historical fiction text to a informational book on the same topic. I then highlighted comparisons between this book and Hiroshima No Pika by Toshi Maruki.
I chose to read this text after reading the historical fiction book and was able to separate the two immediately following my read. I must give the author credit for including a combination of both factual information, narrative accounts and quotations, I felt like I was looking for a better balance between the two.
This book, although creatively designed with print and pictures that appeal to the eye, lacks order in its composition, as well. I feel that the way in which the topics were arranged is not logical and the flow of the reading seems forced. Starting with what happened when at Hiroshima, moving to global implications of the bomb, then backing up to how Japan became a threat to the United States, then further back to Einstein and the development of the atomic bomb, I had a hard time following through the text. I know it is important to remember that this is an informational text and is not meant to be read like a story, cover to cover, but I must admit that I struggled with the organization of the topics. In reading informational texts, we often use them to assist students in creating a framework on the topic so that they are better prepared for when more complex texts are later introduced. I would discourage this book to be used for such purpose.

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

Factual errors begin almost immediately. Col. Paul Tibbets piloted the Enola Gay during atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He was not the co-pilot. The Russo-Japanese war took place from 1904-1905, not 1904-1945.