John Hersey was an American writer and journalist recognized as an early practitioner of New Journalism, a style that blends novelistic storytelling with non-fiction reportage. He is celebrated for his account of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a work deemed the finest piece of journalism of the 20th century. Hersey's approach fused compelling narrative techniques with factual reporting to illuminate profound human experiences.
On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was destroyed by the first atom bomb ever dropped on a city. This book, John Hersey's journalistic masterpiece, tells what happened on that day. Told through the memories of survivors, this timeless, powerful and compassionate document has become a classic "that stirs the conscience of humanity" (The New York Times).