The First Heroes: The Extraordinary Story of the Doolittle Raid- America's First World War II Victory - Hardcover

Nelson, Craig

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670030872 ISBN 13: 9780670030873

Publisher: The Viking Press, 2002

Synopsis

A nail-biting account of the Doolittle Raid against Tokyo explores this seminal event in the early stages of World War II, and discusses its ramifications in terms of the Allied war effort, and profiles the men who took part in the raid. 40,000 first printing.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Advance praise for Craig Nelson's THE FIRST HEROES:

"The Doolittle Raid was Franklin Roosevelt's answer to Pearl Harbor. The gutsy mission shocked the Japanese, electrified America, and determined the shape and tenor of the entire Pacific War. If you want to read one book to understand how a humbled America rose to defeat mighty Japan, you hold that book in your hands. Read about the original 'Mission Impossible' of World War II. Read about the boys who flew off into history, believing they would never come back. Read about the boys who were the first heroes." (James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers)

"The First Heroes is epic in sweep. The story of the Doolittle Raid lifts off the page, as rich and engrossing as any legend, and Craig Nelson proceeds to bring to vivid life the dramatic story behind the story. This is an astonishing feat - the hours breathe with even the tiniest gesture of young men desperately fighting to stay alive, against the panorama of modern war and a turbulent century in the making. Nelson is an amazing storyteller." (Doug Stanton, author of In Harm's Way)

"In this passionate and intimate history, Craig Nelson reminds us that America's first response to Pearl Harbor was neither tepid nor undramatic, but rather one of warfare's boldest chapters of righteous revenge." (Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers)

"I vividly remember as a boy, in the demoralizing months following Pearl Harbor, the disbelief and elation that greeted news that American bombers had actually struck Tokyo! Now Craig Nelson has given us every detail, every secret, every story behind this raid, which first taught an insecure nation that we could hit this enemy and, in time, defeat him." (Joseph E. Persico, author of Roosevelt's Secret War)

"Craig Nelson has produced a book that is, quite simply, unforgettable. The First Heroes lives and moves with staggering power and vitality. I never wanted it to end." (Leon Bing, author of Do or Die)

"The First Heroes is the best kind of history: important, thoughtful, and wonderfully gripping. Craig Nelson has done a splendid job of making America's first victory in World War II seem so vital, so relevant, that reading it feels like living it." (Susan Isaacs, author of Long Time No See and Compromising Positions)

About the Author:

Craig Nelson is the author of three previous books, most recently Let's Get Lost. His writings have appeared in Salon.com and a host of other publications. He was an editor at HarperCollins, Hyperion, and Random House for almost twenty years and has been profiled by Variety, Interview, Manhattan File, Inc., The Daily News, Publishers Weekly, and Time Out New York.

About this edition

• Publisher: The Viking Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0670030872
• ISBN 13: 9780670030873
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 448