Crucible of a Generation
How the Attack on Pearl Harbor Transformed America

Crucible of a Generation tells the story of the fifteen days surrounding the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor through the pages of eight leading American newspapers. Focusing on publications such as The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, J. Kenneth Brody paints a vivid picture of U.S. political culture and society at a pivotal moment in the nation's history. Brody considers the papers in full, from headlines to "help wanted" ads, in a text richly illustrated with archival images, wartime posters, and editorial cartoons. The book provides a compelling snapshot of the United States and the role of the media at a time of dramatic tension and global change.

Prologue: Fifteen Fateful Days

Last Sunday at Peace: November 30, 1941

Last Week at Peace: December 1–6, 1941

"Day of Infamy": Sunday, December 7, 1941

First Week at War: December 8–13, 1941

First Sunday at War: December 14, 1941

J. Kenneth Brody served as a World War II naval officer in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific theaters. He practiced law in Seattle and was executive vice president of a Fortune 500 company, and then retired to write the history of his era. He is the author of The Avoidable War and The Trial of Pierre Laval.