Publisher halts Hiroshima book
Source: Agencies |
March 3, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PUBLICATION has been halted of a disputed book about the atomic bombing of Japan that "Avatar" director James Cameron had optioned for a possible film.
Publisher Henry Holt and Company, said author Charles Pellegrino "was not able to answer" concerns about "The Last Train from Hiroshima," including whether two men mentioned in the book actually existed.
"It is with deep regret that Henry Holt and Company announces that we will not print, correct or ship copies of Charles Pellegrino's 'The Last Train from Hiroshima'," the publisher said.
Doubts were first raised about the book a week ago after Pellegrino acknowledged one of his interview subjects had falsely claimed to be on one of the planes accompanying the Enola Gay, from which an atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
The publisher was then unable to determine the existence of a Father Mattias said to have lived in Hiroshima at the time, and John MacQuitty, a Jesuit scholar said to have presided over Mattias's funeral.
Pellegrino's own background was also questioned. His Website lists him as receiving a PhD in 1982 from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. But it said it had no proof he had such a degree.
In an e-mail, Pellegrino said MacQuitty was "a changed identity" he had neglected to mention in the book's acknowledgments.
He also said his PhD had been revoked over a dispute on evolutionary theory. He did not address the identity of Father Mattias.
As of Monday afternoon, "Last Train" was ranked at 244 on the Amazon.com best-seller list and had sold 7,000 copies.
Publisher Henry Holt and Company, said author Charles Pellegrino "was not able to answer" concerns about "The Last Train from Hiroshima," including whether two men mentioned in the book actually existed.
"It is with deep regret that Henry Holt and Company announces that we will not print, correct or ship copies of Charles Pellegrino's 'The Last Train from Hiroshima'," the publisher said.
Doubts were first raised about the book a week ago after Pellegrino acknowledged one of his interview subjects had falsely claimed to be on one of the planes accompanying the Enola Gay, from which an atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
The publisher was then unable to determine the existence of a Father Mattias said to have lived in Hiroshima at the time, and John MacQuitty, a Jesuit scholar said to have presided over Mattias's funeral.
Pellegrino's own background was also questioned. His Website lists him as receiving a PhD in 1982 from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. But it said it had no proof he had such a degree.
In an e-mail, Pellegrino said MacQuitty was "a changed identity" he had neglected to mention in the book's acknowledgments.
He also said his PhD had been revoked over a dispute on evolutionary theory. He did not address the identity of Father Mattias.
As of Monday afternoon, "Last Train" was ranked at 244 on the Amazon.com best-seller list and had sold 7,000 copies.
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