THE DECISION TO DROP THE BOMB [First UK edition]

Descripción

First impression of the first UK edition, published in 1967 by Methuen. The book was originally published in the USA by Coward McCann in 1965. Illustrated with 16pp of monochrome photographs. ***Very good in blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still bright and fresh. The boards are clean and unmarked. Head and tail of spine slightly creased. Corners sharp, with just slight creasing to the lower corners. Light vertical reading crease to the spine. Edges of page block lightly foxed. Internally also very good with no ownership inscriptions - the pages are clean and uncreased. No internal foxing. No creases or tears. ***In a very good illustrated dustwrapper, which is not price-clipped, and retains the original publisher's printed price of 50s. net. The dustwrapper is complete without any loss. There is some wear and creasing to the edges, mainly at the head and tail of the spine. The white areas of the dustwrapper are slightly marked through age and handling. However, there are no tears or chips. The red lettering on the spine is slightly faded. [Please see scans] ***222 mm x148 mm. 348 pages including Appendix, Bibliography and detailed Index at the back of the book. ***Contents: Preface, Dramatis Personae, Prologue, 1. A New President, 2. Briefing the President, 3. The Interim Committee is Created, 4. The Problem of Defeating Japan, 5. The Interim Committee Votes Unanimously, 6. The Question of a Demonstration, 7. Defining Unconditional Surrender, 8. A Warning Proclamation is Drafted, 9. Japan Seeks Terms, 10. Controversy Among the Scientists, 11. The Status of the Emperor, 12. Zero Hour at Trinity, 13. Decisions at Potsdam, 14. The Decision to Drop the Bomb, 15. The Bomb is Dropped, 16. Japan Receives a Double Blow, 17. Japan Decides to Surrender, 18. Violent Aftermath in Tokyo, Epilogue, Appendix, Bibliography, Index. ***'On 12th April, 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt died, the end of the war in Europe was only three weeks away, and the scientists had still to test their new weapon. The atomic bomb had been developed to forestall Nazi Germany. It fell to the incoming President Harry S. Truman, who had heard nothing of the project before taking office, to decide on the use of the bomb to finish the war against Japan. He and his advisers had no precedents to guide them as they considered what they should do. They could not sound opinion in Congress or through the Press, and within their closely drawn circle there were genuine differences of interest and belief. Len Giovannitti and Fred Freed have used much new and unfamiliar material, including extensive interviews with the participants, in this reconstruction of the events and circumstances that led to the dropping of the bomb. They trace the course of the discussions between the politicians and their service and technical advisers, the part played by personal relationships, and the attempt of some of the scientists to stop the bomb being used without warning. In addition, they supply a thorough analysis of developments abroad, and in particular the situation in Japan. The authors show that the debate in Washington and the atomic plants was careful and wide-ranging, and that issues are no less complex for being supremely important. The result is to provide both an imaginative study of decision making and a valuable contribution to our understanding of the closing months of the Second World War.' [Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper] ***A first impression of the first UK edition - an uncommon book in very good condition. Published during the height of the Cold War. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate. N° de ref. del artículo 7764

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