Tuesday 3 March 2009

Wednesday 18 February 2009

Doctor Atomic - a new opera at the London Coliseum

The English National Opera are soon to launch a new opera by John Adams based on the life of Robert J. Oppenheimer, one of the key figures in Jim Baggott's book.

This is what they say about it:

'John Adams — the composer of Nixon in China — turns his fertile imagination to another seminal moment in modern history: the creation of the atomic bomb. Doctor Atomic focuses on the moral dilemma surrounding J. Robert Oppeheimer’s apocalyptic invention, in a major new co-production between ENO and the Metropolitan Opera, New York.'

More info is here.

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Atomic by Jim Baggott

Atomic: The First War of Physics and the Secret History of the Atom bomb, 1939-49 by Jim Baggott will be published by Icon Books on 5th March 2009.

A monumental new history of the race, during the second world war and in its immediate aftermath, to build humankind's most destructive weapon, and the scientists involved.

We have already recieved pre-publication praise for the book from two well-regarded authors:

‘World War II changed many things and not the least among them was the relationship of science to the military. Readers interested in this important historic transformation will find Jim Baggott's engaging history replete with drama and insight.’

Martin J. Sherwin, co-author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Biography.

‘This is a very good book. I particularly like the way Baggott has been able to weave the science, 'grand-scale' politics and espionage together into one compelling narrative.’

Mark Walker, author of German National Socialism and the Quest for Nuclear Power.