The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945

By John Toland

Book Overview

This Pulitzer Prize-winning history of World War II chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the Japanese empire, from the invasion of Manchuria and China to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Told from the Japanese perspective, The Rising Sun is, in the author's words, "a factual saga of people caught up in the flood of the most overwhelming war of mankind, told as it happened--muddled, ennobling, disgraceful, frustrating, full of paradox."

In weaving together the historical facts and human drama leading up to and culminating in the war in the Pacific, Toland crafts a riveting and unbiased narrative history. In his Foreword, Toland says that if we are to draw any conclusion from The Rising Sun, it is "that there are no simple lessons in history, that it is human nature that repeats itself, not history."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812968581
• ISBN13: 9780812968583
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Modern Library
• Length: 976 Pages
• Weight: 2.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Pacific War

... incredibly rich information about the Pacific War! A very detailed and readable book. Outstanding!

WWII from the Japanese point of view

This is a monumental piece of work. The author has managed to craft hundreds of sources into one single narrative that reads like an epic novel. The book begins from Japan's involvement into China right up to the Allies' occupation after her surrender.Since history is mainly dictated by the victors, objective works from the point of view of the defeated countries are often hard to come by. John Toland has managed to do a great job in filling this void, giving us a rare glimpse as to the whens, whys and hows of Japan's decision to get herself into an ultimately disastrous war.If you are a WWII enthusiast, and have read mainly accounts written by American or British authors, then this book will fill in a lot of the gaps. If anything, it's enlightening to read the other side of the story to any conflict. Very highly recommended. Find a used copy today!