In this haunting work of journalistic investigation; Haruki Murakami tells the story of the horrific terrorist attack on Japanese soil that shook the entire world. On a clear spring day in 1995; five members of a religious cult unleashed poison gas on the Tokyo subway system. In attempt to discover why; Haruki Murakmi talks to the people who lived through the catastrophe; and in so doing lays bare the Japanese psyche. As he discerns the fundamental issues that led to the attack; Murakami paints a clear vision of an event that could occur anytime; anywhere.
#27138 in Books Drew Gilpin Faust 2009-01-06 2009-01-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.98 x .73 x 5.19l; .72 #File Name: 0375703837346 pagesThis Republic of Suffering Death and the American Civil War
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fantastic Social HistoryBy David SouthworthThis was a fantastic book; though sometimes hard to stomach. Most Civil War books are about great battles and specific generals. Drew Gilpin Fast's book; This Republic of Suffering; covers something much more personal. The tremendous change that swept the United States due to the horrendous number of war dead. The US had never experienced anything like this; especially not in a short four year period.Gilpin Faust covers a number of issues related to how Americans dealt with death. There was the issue of whether the relative had a "good" death; meaning essentially they were ready to face their maker. There was identification and burial of war dead. Many were lucky to be able to identify dead loved ones. Many others were not so lucky; and so had to take solace that their loved ones were buried with comrades. Gilpin Faust discusses the different ways each side dealt with war dead. The north had the advantage in being able to identify and transport back war dead because of resources. The south was stretched thin.All round this was a fantastic book; touching on a little discussed or studied aspect of our great civil war. I highly recommend this book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Republic of SufferingBy John DanielBeen doing Civil War reenacting and teaching High School History for about 40 years and could not understand the cynicism behind the post war statement made by two former Union Army Generals at a dedication of a National cemetery "We finally got them to line up in ranks." This book was a present I probably would not have picked up myself; but has turned out to be one of the most thought provoking books I have read. It is one that you will want to take time and digest the information as you read. This makes it easy to put down but likely to be picked up again. The 19th century concept of "the Good Death" from religious and social conventions is very difficult for a person in the 21st century to understand. Then there is the cultural shock of so many casualties in such a short time making it comparable to the Taiping Rebellion in China or the Soviet losses in World War II. What to do to honor the fallen has been a national issue for the United States in all of our post Civil War conflicts to today. The idea of death in the military would absolve your past sins because one is sacrificing themselves for a higher cause comes forward from this period.This is a very thorough and well documented review of all of the concepts involved in dealing with this issue in a national consciousness. Many different sides are presented fairly and it is easy to see how they have shaped our national views and still do.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great historical workBy Dennis MThis is a grim topic; obviously; but added significantly to my understanding of the mindset of the time of the civil war. The whole concept of "the good death" was new to me; and while I knew of the fanatic religious idiocy that was then prevalent (for example Jackson's reluctance to march on Sundays); this brought it home in a more concrete way than other books before had done. Also; the post-war difference in treatment of Yankee dead versus Confederate foreshadowed the many abuses that were soon to follow under the guise of "reconstruction".When we see the over-reaction of government and society to more recent small attacks (such as 9/11 and the political farce over Benghazi); it makes me wonder how this society would sustain huge losses such as those seen at Shiloh or Gettysburg.
