At Dawn We Slept

At Dawn We Slept. It is a comprehensive historical account of the Attack on Pearl Harbor and its complex origins, written by historian Gordon W. Prange. Published posthumously in 1981, the work is based on Prange's decades of research, including extensive interviews with both American and Japanese military and civilian participants. The book's detailed narrative examines the failures of U.S. intelligence, the strategic planning of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and the political tensions between Washington, D.C. and Tokyo that culminated in the surprise attack on December 7, 1941.

Overview

The book provides a minute-by-minute chronicle of the events leading to and including the Attack on Pearl Harbor, analyzing the roles of key figures like Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, General Walter Short, and Admiral Husband E. Kimmel. Prange structures the narrative to present parallel perspectives from the U.S. Navy, the Imperial Japanese Navy, and the diplomatic corps in both nations. It delves into specific operational details, such as the development of the Type 91 torpedo and the routing of the Japanese aircraft carrier strike force across the North Pacific Ocean. The work concludes with an assessment of the immediate aftermath, including the subsequent Roberts Commission and the long-term impact on U.S. Pacific Fleet strategy.

Historical context

Prange situates the attack within the broader geopolitical strife of the late 1930s and early 1940s, including the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Tripartite Pact, and the United States embargo on Japan. The narrative explores the escalating tensions following the Japanese invasion of French Indochina and the failed diplomatic negotiations between Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Japanese Ambassador Kichisaburō Nomura. It details the strategic mindset within the Imperial General Headquarters in Tokyo and the prevailing isolationism in the United States Congress that influenced military preparedness. The context of breaking Japanese naval codes through efforts like MAGIC and the missed warnings at stations like Station HYPO are critically examined.

Research and sources

The research foundation is derived from Prange's work as a historian with the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers during the Occupation of Japan, where he interviewed numerous Japanese principals, including Mitsuo Fuchida. He also conducted extensive interviews with American personnel like Edwin T. Layton and consulted official records from the U.S. National Archives, the Naval History and Heritage Command, and the Japanese Military History Department. The manuscript was completed posthumously by colleagues Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine V. Dillon, who synthesized Prange's vast collection of notes, interview transcripts, and primary documents from the International Military Tribunal for the Far East.

Reception and impact

Upon its release, the book received widespread critical acclaim, winning the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for naval literature and becoming a finalist for the American Book Awards. Reviewers in publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post praised its monumental scope and balanced scholarship, cementing its status as a definitive account. Its findings significantly influenced subsequent historiography on Pearl Harbor, challenging earlier theories of conspiracy and emphasizing institutional and intelligence failures. The work is frequently cited by scholars at institutions like the United States Naval Institute and remains a cornerstone text in studies of World War II in the Pacific Theater.

Editions and adaptations

The original 1981 edition was published by McGraw-Hill and has been through multiple printings and translated editions. An abridged paperback version was later released by Penguin Books. Prange's research also formed the basis for two companion volumes edited by Goldstein and Dillon: Pearl Harbor: The Verdict of History and December 7, 1941: The Day the Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor. While not a direct adaptation, the miniseries Pearl Harbor and numerous documentary films by PBS and the History Channel have drawn heavily upon the book's detailed narrative and analysis.

Category:1981 non-fiction books Category:Books about the Attack on Pearl Harbor Category:American history books