A Glorious Way to Die - by Russell Spurr (Paperback)

About the Book

Told from both Japanese and Allied points of view, this critically acclaimed World War II classic documents the tragic final days of the Japanese battleship "Yamato" and its doomed last mission.
In April 1945, the Japanese battleship "Yamato," the pride of the Japanese navy and the largest battleship ever built, left Japan on a deliberate suicide attack upon Allied forces engaged in the Battle of Okinawa, with only eight other Japanese warships, no overhead air cover, and enough fuel for only one day. The Japanese force was attacked, stopped, and almost completely destroyed by U.S. carrier-borne aircraft before reaching Okinawa. "Yamato" and five other Japanese warships were sunk. "The Yamato" lost 3,062 men; only 269 were saved.
In this critically acclaimed retelling of the "Yamato's" final days, from March 28 to April 8, 1945, Russell Spurr documents and dramatizes, from both American and Japanese points of view, the events surrounding this tragic mission—a battle that made clear Japan's willingness to sacrifice large numbers of men in attempts to slow the Allies, which, in many historians' opinions, likely influenced President Truman's decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the atom bomb four months after the "Yamato" sank.

Book Synopsis

Acclaimed by Critics, Historians, and Military Leaders the World Over

Review Quotes

"A compelling book…Mr. Spurr bases his narrative on extensive interviews with survivors from both sides."—"The New York Times Book Review"

"[Spurr's] book shines a blend of storytelling skill, naval experience and a rare ability to make clear the psychological climate of this time and these people."—"Philadelphia Inquirer"

"A powerful chronicle that rivals A Bridge Too Far in storytelling quality and tragedy…utterly spellbinding."—William Stevenson, author of "A Man Called Intrepid"

"A powerful, suspenseful work of history, a naval version of A Night to Remember."—"San Francisco Chronicle"

"Gripping…A resounding demonstration of first-rate military history with an unusual human dimension."—"Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Russell Spurr was the Far East Correspondent for the London "Daily Express" and ABC Radio Network, and chief correspondent and deputy editor of the "Far Eastern Economic Review." He lived in Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia.