U of T political science professor Randall Hansen’s book Fire and Fury: The Allied Bombing of Germany 1942-1945 has found itself on the bestsellers list 10 years after its initial publication — but the book’s recent success is likely owed to Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.
Incredibly, sales of my https://t.co/8VeAA9DCFT have increased. Will I owe a larger royalty cheque to Bannon & Trump? If so, the irony will know no limits. #FireAndFury
— Randall Hansen (@ProfRAHansen) January 6, 2018
Wolff’s book, which details the US President’s first year in the White House, was released earlier this month. The book has garnered significant attention, particularly due to White House efforts to downplay claims made by sources in the book, including former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.
Hansen’s book, which was nominated for the Governor General’s award in 2009, looks at the effects of carpet bombing on German citizens during World War II, many of whom were children.
The Amazon page for Hansen’s book shows that “Customers who bought this item also bought” Wolff’s book. Hansen told The Globe and Mail, “It’s not my fault people can’t tell the difference between a book about Trump and a book about the bombing of Germany. But most have been jovial and appreciated the moment of levity.”
The connection to Wolff’s book was the only logical reason for the sales bump, Hansen said.
Hansen is currently the Interim Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs, and teaches a number of undergraduate political science courses.