Bells of Nagasaki: Adapted and Annotated for Modern Readers

In the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, one man emerged from the ruins not only to survive-but to bear witness. The Bells of Nagasaki is the deeply moving, firsthand account of Dr. Takashi Nagai, a Catholic physician, radiologist, and professor who chronicled both the devastation and the enduring spirit of a city brought to its knees.

Writing from a small hut near ground zero, Dr. Nagai offers more than a report of destruction; he offers a message of humanity. With clarity and moral conviction, he recounts the horrors of August 9, 1945-the incineration of neighborhoods, the loss of his beloved wife, the suffering of the injured-and yet he insists on the possibility of forgiveness, healing, and peace. His words ring out like the broken but unyielding bells of Urakami Cathedral, calling readers to remembrance and reflection.

This edition presents Nagai's timeless message in a renewed voice, offering modern readers an accessible and faithful rendering of a book once suppressed, then revered. Part memoir, part spiritual meditation, The Bells of Nagasaki remains one of the most poignant documents to emerge from the ashes of World War II.

For readers of history, theology, medical ethics, and human rights, this is not just a story of war-it is a record of conscience.