Book Review: ‘To Hell and Back: The Last Train From Hiroshima’—A Haunting Reflection on Survival and Tragedy
By Charles R. Pellegrino | Revised Edition Released August 6, 2015
Charles R. Pellegrino’s book, To Hell and Back: The Last Train From Hiroshima, is a chilling, deeply human account of survival during one of the darkest moments in human history—the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Originally published in 2010 as The Last Train From Hiroshima, the book faced intense scrutiny and controversy. But with its 2015 revised edition, Pellegrino returns with a more accurate and reflective narrative, removing fraudulent sources and expanding survivor accounts, offering readers a devastating but essential insight into the tragedy of nuclear warfare.
A Story of Unimaginable Survival
Pellegrino’s narrative draws readers into the lives of hibakusha, or explosion survivors, including Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only person officially recognized by Japan as surviving both atomic bombings. On August 6, 1945, Yamaguchi was two miles from Hiroshima’s epicenter when the Enola Gay dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb. Barely making it through that horror, he returned to his hometown of Nagasaki, where three days later, he witnessed the second bombing. Through Yamaguchi and the stories of other survivors, Pellegrino explores the randomness of survival, where proximity to windows, the color of clothing, and simple acts of fate decided who lived and died.
The revised edition brings to light more witness accounts of survivors—doctors, civilians, and “ant walkers” aimlessly moving through the apocalyptic aftermath of both cities. Pellegrino’s detailed descriptions, from “shock cocoons” that shielded people indoors to the horrifying transformations of burned skin into what was referred to as “alligator people,” render the incomprehensible into stark reality.
The Fallout and Revisions
The Last Train From Hiroshima faced major backlash in 2010 after it was revealed that a key source, Joseph Fuoco, had fabricated his involvement in the mission to Hiroshima. Additional doubts were raised about two other characters. The resulting controversy led to the publisher, Henry Holt, withdrawing the book from circulation. However, Pellegrino’s dedication to truth eventually led to the re-release of the revised edition under Rowman & Littlefield in 2015, titled To Hell and Back.
This new version offers a more rigorous look at the bombings, removing discredited accounts and presenting a more authentic representation of the survivors’ experiences. While the original edition was tainted by fraudulent claims, the revised version restores the integrity of Pellegrino’s work, though it continues to confront the difficult questions of historical accuracy.
Reflection on a Grievous Event
Pellegrino’s work is as much a reflection on survival as it is on the moral consequences of war. With the removal of unreliable sources, To Hell and Back becomes a profound meditation on human endurance, tragedy, and the aftermath of nuclear devastation. His descriptions of radiation sickness and the slow, painful deaths that followed the bombings remind readers of the lingering impact of these events. In an era where nuclear weapons remain a global threat, Pellegrino’s book is both a powerful historical document and a cautionary tale.
A Timely Call to Remember
In 2010, The Last Train From Hiroshima caught the attention of director James Cameron, who optioned it for a potential feature film. With Cameron hinting at the possibility of adapting the book before Avatar 4, the story of Hiroshima and Nagasaki may soon make its way to the big screen. As Cameron said, “The Hiroshima film would be as timely as ever, if not more so.”
To Hell and Back reminds readers of the catastrophic human cost of war and the random fate of survival. In doing so, it not only tells the stories of survivors but also compels us to reflect on the responsibilities of governments, societies, and individuals in preventing such atrocities from ever occurring again.
Image credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f1/LastTrainFromHiroshima.jpg
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-01-13/james-cameron-avatar-titanic-hiroshima
