Check also: What Other Books CND Readers Are Reading?

CND Virtual Bookshelf: History

Documents on the Rape of Nanking
This volume collects two historical records of the Nanjing Massacre as well as some documents from the tribunal on Japanese war crime. In November 1937, a group of foreigners in Nanking (now spelled Nanjing) formed the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone with the intention of protecting Chinese civilians when the Japanese army entered the Chinese capital. They put the burden on their shoulders with the knowledge that Chiang Kai Shek and the rest of the national and city government staff would soon be gone. The set of documents produced by the committee was later published in 1939 and is reproduced in its entirety. The authoratative documentary by the committee on Japanese atrocity is an important contribution to humanity no less significant than the humanitarian work they conducted during those months following the fall of Nanjing. The terrifying thought of what other suffering the people of Nanjing endured without being witnessed is unbearable. Of great importance are the letters of Dr. Robert Wilson, the only surgeon who stayed in the occupied capital. 24 letters he wrote for his family in America are reproduced. They told of the cases of "appalling" brutality, in the doctor's words, "almost beyond belief." With such firsthand historical records, we gain better perspective on the human race's dark chapter of World War II that ended following the use of the atomic bombs and should feel fortunate that the suffering caused by the Japanese aggression did not stretch longer. This is another title to donate to local libraries. It can be ordered here or from the University of Michigan Press at www.press.umich.edu. Edited by Timothy Brook, Professor of Chinese History at the University of Toronto. He taught the material covered in the book in 1999 to students at Stanford University. (Reviewed by WL)

This volume collects two historical records of the Nanjing Massacre as well as some documents from the tribunal on Japanese war crime.

In November 1937, a group of foreigners in Nanking (now spelled Nanjing) formed the International Committee for the Nanking Safety Zone with the intention of protecting Chinese civilians when the Japanese army entered the Chinese capital. They put the burden on their shoulders with the knowledge that Chiang Kai Shek and the rest of the national and city government staff would soon be gone. The set of documents produced by the committee was later published in 1939 and is reproduced in its entirety. The authoratative documentary by the committee on Japanese atrocity is an important contribution to humanity no less significant than the humanitarian work they conducted during those months following the fall of Nanjing. The terrifying thought of what other suffering the people of Nanjing endured without being witnessed is unbearable.

Of great importance are the letters of Dr. Robert Wilson, the only surgeon who stayed in the occupied capital. 24 letters he wrote for his family in America are reproduced. They told of the cases of "appalling" brutality, in the doctor's words, "almost beyond belief." With such firsthand historical records, we gain better perspective on the human race's dark chapter of World War II that ended following the use of the atomic bombs and should feel fortunate that the suffering caused by the Japanese aggression did not stretch longer.

This is another title to donate to local libraries. It can be ordered here or from the University of Michigan Press at www.press.umich.edu.

Edited by Timothy Brook, Professor of Chinese History at the University of Toronto. He taught the material covered in the book in 1999 to students at Stanford University. (Reviewed by WL)

Note: Book reviews written by readers or editors reflect their personal views and not those of CND. They are presented here for your reference only.

Please send your comments and suggestions to webmaster@cnd.org