John Willard Toland (June 29, 1912 – January 4, 2004) Based on original and extensive interviews with high-ranking Japanese officials who survived the war, the book chronicles the Empire of Japan from the military rebellion of February 1936 to the end of World War II.

Novels

While predominantly a writer of nonfiction, Toland also published two historical novels, Gods of War and Occupation. He said in his 1997 autobiography that he earned little money from his prize-winner The Rising Sun, but was set for life from the earnings of Adolf Hitler, for which he also did original research.

Death

Toland died of pneumonia on January 4, 2004, at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut.

  • John Toland Papers at the National Archives Catalog