Children of Radium

In Children of Radium, Joe Dunthorne embarks on a quest to uncover the complex legacy of his great-grandfather, a German-Jewish chemist whose career took a dark turn as he developed chemical weapons for the Nazis. What begins as an exploration of his family's escape from Nazi Germany evolves into a profound examination of morality and inheritance, as Dunthorne sifts through his great-grandfather's extensive memoirs and travels to significant sites linked to this troubling history. This award-winning memoir is a thought-provoking meditation on the nature of truth, trauma, and familial connections that challenges readers to confront uncomfortable legacies.