Seven Days of Infamy: Pearl Harbor Across the World

by Nicholas Best

December 7, 1941: One of those rare days in world history that people remember exactly where they were, what they were doing, and how they felt when they heard the news.

Marlene Dietrich, Clark Gable, and James Cagney were in Hollywood. Kurt Vonnegut was in the bath, and Dwight D. Eisenhower was napping. Kirk Douglas was a waiter in New York, getting nowhere with Lauren Bacall. Ed Murrow was preparing for a round of golf in Washington. In Seven Days of Infamy, historian Nicholas Best uses fascinating individual perspectives to relate the story of Japan’s momentous attack on Pearl Harbor and its global repercussions in tense, dramatic style. But he doesn’t stop there.

Instead, Best takes readers on an unprecedented journey through the days surrounding the attack, providing a snapshot of figures around the world—from Ernest Hemingway on the road in Texas to Jack Kennedy playing touch football in Washington; Mao Tse-tung training his forces in Yun’an and the Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe cheering as the United States entered the war.

Offering a human look at an event that would forever alter the global landscape, Seven Days of Infamy chronicles one of the most extraordinary weeks in world history.

Genres: History, World War II, American History, War, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Military History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published November 29, 2016

About the author

Nicholas Best grew up in Kenya and was educated there, in England and at Trinity College, Dublin. He served in the Grenadier Guards and worked as a journalist in London before becoming a full time author.
His first novel ('As a satire on military bigotry and shambling officialdom, Where were you at Waterloo? is in places as sharp as Waugh and sometimes better' - Times Literary Supplement) was written at Harvard. His second, Tennis and the Masai ('The funniest book of the year - Daily Telegraph) was serialized on BBC Radio 4.
He has since written many other books, including Happy Valley: the Story of the English in Kenya, The Greatest Day in History, about the Armistice of 1918, and Five Days that shocked the World, about the end of the Second World War.
Best was the Financial Times's fiction critic for ten years. In 2010, he was long-listed for the Sunday Times-EFG Bank award of £30,000, the biggest short story prize in the world. He lives in Cambridge.
For more information, visit www.nicholasbest.co.uk

Reviews

[Brooke Dilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it interesting to learn how the world reacted to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Mostly accounts of people who were or would become famous/important in our history. As it is just a snippet of time, his book makes me want to learn more in depth information about WWII.

[John Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Seven Days of Infamy" eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Nicholas Best (http://www.nicholasbest.co.uk). Mr. Best has published more than 20 books and novels.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story covers the days just before and then following December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Perl Harbor.

While I have read several accounts of the Perl Harbor attack, this non-fiction book brings a different perspective. Most of it focuses on various people around the world and what they were doing when they heard about the attack. These come from a wide range of sources from diverse backgrounds, some Allied and some with the Axis powers. The book touches on many lives with their perspectives on the attack and how it impacted their lives.

A couple of stories are good examples of the variety. One tells of author Edgar Rice Burroughs who was in Hawaii at the time of the attack. He is handed a Springfield rifle and spends the night guarding a group of Japanese civilians aboard their small boats. Another tells of the Japanese embassy officials in Washington DC trying to type out a 15-page document that includes a break in diplomatic relations with the US. This document was supposed to be delivered just before the attack, declaring war. Because of security concerns, typists were not used on the document, but an official who could only "hunt and peck" with two fingers had the task of typing it up. As a result, the declaration was late, delivered well after the attack.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 8.5 hours I spent reading this non-fiction account from World War II. While the was definitely a historical account, this read very easily. I learned many interesting facts about the attack. I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven Days of Infamy takes the reader through the three days before December 7, 1941, and beyond. While it is still one of the seminal moments of American history, it was just a piece of the puzzle when looking at a worldview of World War Two. In those seven days, decisions were being made in Germany concerning how to proceed on the Russian front. The first gassing of Jews was taking place. Life was changed for future presidents. The events of that day influenced the creator of Tarzan, Edger Rice Burroughs, as well several other writers who saw the attack.

Readers will find out what actors and actresses such as Carole Lombard, Charlton Heston, Marlene Dietrich and Clark Gable were doing that day. Within the time frame of the book not only was the American Navy almost wiped out, but Britain suffered great losses. How did Hitler react to the news of the bombings?

The author, Nicholas Best has painstakingly researched Seven Days of Infamy. Much of the accounts from that day are found in his extensive bibliography. While he occasionally gets off track (what does Mel Gibson have to do with Pearl Harbor?), he has presented a very readable account of those seven days. From the major players to two little boys sent to Hawaii to escape the war in England, the events of those seven days impacted each.

For anyone interested in World War Two, I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley and Thistle Publishing in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

Thistle Publishing
Pub Date 2/8/18

[Terri Wangard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven Days of Infamy: Pearl Harbor Across the World is described as a collection of remembrances of mostly famous characters not usually associated with the attack on Pearl Harbor. It offers anecdotes I’d never heard before.

It was also not what I expected. Many of the people mentioned, such as actors Kirk Douglas or Clark Gable, are briefly covered in a few paragraphs. The first chapter discusses the Germans’ situation in Russia.

Many brief stories are amusing, such as how Mary Astor didn’t like kissing Humphrey Bogart. A botched lip surgery made him a very slobbery kisser.

Or how author John Steinbeck wrote a play about a European town occupied by Germans for the Foreign Information Service to combat German propaganda. He dictated the play to a secretary who made significant changes of her own to the script, leaving out portions about the Germans she didn’t like. Turns out she was a Nazi sympathizer actively supporting Hitler.

The Japanese high command entertained far-fetched ideas in their euphoria after their success, such as an amalgamation of Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, and Washington State in a new Japanese-controlled country after they won the war. Right.

Some things are annoying. Many Americans were pleased the attack brought them into the war. Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease envoy to Britain, Averell Harriman, was bitter toward isolationists. He hoped American cities would be blitzed to wake people up.

This is very much a mixed book of surprises.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found one of Nicholas Best's book by accident and loved it. So when I finished that book, I saw this book and since I'm really interested in WWII history, I got it. It didn't disappoint at all. The research by Best is phenomenal, and he manages to not focus on just one nation involved which has been done, but to tie all of them together. I had read books on Pearl Harbor before, but though they would concentrate on the US or Japanes outlook, they didn't bring in other nations like Great Britain, New Zealand, China, Germany, and Itally. It is so fascinating to see how they reacted to the news about Pearl Harbor, and their involvement one way or another.

Best brings up the background that led to Pearl Harbor, and actually makes me want to know more about what led to this. The book brings up the fragile egos of men and nations that make them want to drag the whole world into a war, which inevitably hurts so many people, especially women and children. I think of all the mothers of those boys who were killed at Pearl Harbor, but you also have to think of the mothers of Japanese boys who went through the same thing. We forget that all those young men did not have a chance to live their lives, and in one of them they may have figured out cancer...so it's a waste.

I enjoyed learning about the actors involved in WWII, what writers from that time periods were doing. The book just really ties it up as a cohesive total, and that really helps to make sense of what happened.

[Valerio Pastore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ideale per chi vuole iniziare a studiare l'evento che non solo cambiò il corso della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, ma che avrebbe trasformato gli Stati Uniti d'America da potenza isolazionista a poliziotto del mondo.
ideale per chi vuole scoprire i retroscena, i cinici calcoli e i tragici errori di valutazione di un attacco prevedibile eppure sottovalutato.
Ideale per capire come la pensasse l'uomo della strada o il soldato, dagli USA al Giappone passando per gli ebrei che stavano per entrare nell'ora più buia della loro vita in Europa.
Ideale per scoprire cosa facevano in quel giorno dell'infamia tante celebrità del mondo dello spettacolo e della letteratura e quei politici che un giorno sarebbero diventati Presidenti.
Molte sono state le pubblicazioni dedicate al primo atto di guerra del Giappone contro gli USA, ma con questa possiamo avere tutto quel che ci serve senza tanti fronzoli. E' un ottimo inizio!

[George Eraclides · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of the Pearl Harbor attack on the USA, starting a truly world war. The author focuses on how the event impacted the time, and incidentally, various well known people. The point of view shifts from American, British and Japanese perspectives. Diplomatic events are an integral part of the narrative. The description of the actual attack on the American base at Pearl Harbor is quite riveting as is what happened to the British Battleships, victims to poor intelligence and the new force in military affairs: Air Power. The gods were smiling on the Americans, if such a horrific event can be given any positive spin; the Japanese attackers missed some key ships, including aircraft carriers, and this was the very moment their doom began. The bibliography is excellent, the writing moves at rapid rate of knots (sorry, couldn't help some nautical humour) and you will learn a great deal about one of history's most significant military events. For Australian readers, this book is a good introduction to this momentous event; there is a special significance to the ability of the Americans to rally and fight back after Pearl Harbor. It saved Australia from certain invasion and the horrors which that would have involved.

[Lew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Best provides a different perspective on the World Events that were occurring at the time of Pearl Harbor attack. I found it interesting that he added personal anecdotes from individuals who later became famous. Mr. Best also brings at times a subtle British perspective to the events leading up to and during the the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Best's book is a good companion book on how the attack Pearl Harbor fit into the larger Global events during that week of December.

[Patricia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and wide-ranging view of the perspective of people all over the world on Pearl Harbor. I had no idea that were actually people who cheered at the news, even though they were Allies. I especially liked reading about many now-famous people who were very young adults at the time of the attack, and how they reacted to the attack immediately and in the years afterward.
This book gave me several leads to other books and movies that I now have interest in delving into.

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book describes the days before, during and after Pearl Harbour through the actions of people in various spots around the world at the time. Some were front and centre of the action, others were peripheral but cam to attention later in life when they achieved some sort of fame.
The writing was quite easy to read, certainly it was not a laborious history full of military terms.
A good book for those interested in learning a little about what happened in that period.

[Andrew Male · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this "yet another" book about Pearl Harbor? Yes, mostly. Is it any worse for that? Not at all. An easy read with a wide range of anecdotes new at least to me, I enjoyed it from cover to cover.

[George Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

fills out the event with what was happening in other parts of the world. worth reading.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched look at the week that followed the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. The author makes no excuses for the surprise attack, but he does manage to humanize the men who planned and executed it. In his usual matter-of-fact style, the author pulls together seemingly disparate points of view to create one story. He mixes stories of the mundane with the extraordinary, with fascinating results.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-researched book about the bombing of Pearl Harbor which prompted the U.S. entry into WWII. I've visited the US Arizona Memorial in Hawaii. My fascination with WWII tends to be the war against Germany because of the horrific acts against Jews. To this day, I can't believe that part of history ever happened.

[Gene Reams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have received my book it is the best book i ever read it is so good that i,m going to give it to my nephew for christmas as a gift my dad was in world 2 and my nephew has the things that belong to my dad when he was in the service so I think that my nephew would love this book.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We always look at Pearl Harbor through the lens of what happened in that particular place on that day. It was so interesting to see what was happening in the rest of the world as the US stepped into WWII.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas Best gives us a fresh look at a well-covered, often covered , subject matter that being the attack on Pearl Harbor first few days after. The book doesn't share any new or insightful findings but that's not the purpose. Best provides us with a snapshot of the culture and political scene going on at the time. The last few moments of peace is very well written and sets a clear boundary for the shock that the attack was. He also does some great writing in describing the often ignored portion of the attacks on Singapore and Malaysia as well as the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse. Lastly, the description of how Nazi Germany came into the war is very interested as it is rarely ever mentioned in more than passing. Here Best offers a more complete history of it that is interesting and shows why it is often an afterthought.

A great read! I recommend it to my fellow history buffs. For those new to history you'll find this time well spent.