A Polish priest who was murdered in Auschwitz. A survivor of the Nagasaki atom bomb who campaigned against nuclear war. And a Japanese school teacher who sent cherry trees as peace offerings around the world. The stories of these three remarkable men form the basis of a new book by the journalist and author Naoko Abe. She spoke to Rob Attar about how hope can emerge from the most terrible suffering.

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Naoko Abe is the author of The Martyr and the Red Kimono: A Fearless Priest’s Sacrifice and A New Generation of Hope in Japan (Vintage Publishing, 2024).

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Authors

Rob AttarEditor, BBC History Magazine

Rob Attar is editor of BBC History Magazine and also works across the HistoryExtra podcast and website, as well as hosting several BBC History Magazine events.

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