The article (linked here), offers a couple of perspectives on the writing of this important chronicle. First, it discusses Chang's research methods, revealing her discovery of diaries belonging to two Westerners previously unstudied. The author's research opened up this shadowy part of world history for discussion in the West, and, as is covered by the Wikipedia entry, began a dialogue between scholars on both sides that was previously not happening.
It also covers Chang's death as "the latest victim of the Nanking Massacre."
Valuable for the hobbyist researcher- the article mentions her sources, related activist works (though these are also covered in her book's introduction), and works inspired by her- specifically the film Nanking.
In the introduction of her book, Chang cites examples of just how little information was readily available on the Massacre when she began researching. While Chang's book is not cited in the bibliography of his book, I was proud of author Curtis Andressen for including the event in his book A Short History of Japan: from Samurai to Sony. At 222 pages of historical narrative, Andressen's history is truly brief. Despite this, he dedicates almost an entire page to this previously censored military action. The information this author cites may have been harder to find before Iris Chang published her book, making this publication yet another history declining to comment on Japan's brutal actions in China. On top of coverage, A Short History of Japan offers a summary of both sides of this ongoing conflict.
I hope this is useful to anyone looking for more on this important work.
-JMY-L
