August 6, 1995 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. For some that event is remembered as the conclusion of World War II; for others the dawn of the nuclear age, a symbol of the imperative to put an end to war. In City of Silence, Rachelle Linner draws on her journeys to Hiroshima and her work and friendship with the survivors, the "hibakusha" (literally, "bomb-affected people") to explore some of the deeper levels of meaning of this profoundly important event.

With the eye of a contemplative Linner explores some of the lesser-known stories of the Bomb and its human legacy. These are stories of suffering, to be sure; but they are also stories of grace, solidarity, and the resiliency of the human spirit. The hibakusha survived a devastating experience; in a moment their world was literally, completely destroyed. Their physical sufferings were compounded by isolation, social stigmatization, and fear of the delayed effects of radiation.

But with this experience many of them accepted a sense of mission and purpose: to bear witness and to overcome the burdens of bitterness and hate.