About the book
A gripping journey into the twisting moral maze of the twentieth century – a journey to uncover a radioactive family secret
'The best book I’ve read in the past year . . . A masterpiece' Financial Times
Joe Dunthorne never met his great-grandfather Siegfried: an eccentric Jewish scientist who escaped Nazi Berlin in the 1930s and snuck back under cover of night to rescue the family heirlooms. Decades later, Siegfried wrote about his adventures in a memoir so long and rambling that almost no one ever managed to read it. Decades after that, his great-grandson Joe unearthed the dusty manuscript and got a nasty surprise. Because hidden on page 1,692 of the unreadable memoir was a shocking confession . . .
‘A voyage into the heart of twentieth-century darkness [...] narrated with the twists and turns of a detective story’ Observer
SHORTLISTED FOR WALES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026
SHORTLISTED FOR THE TLS ACKERLEY PRIZE 2026
Editions of Children of Radium
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780241517468
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780241517475
- EBook
- ISBN 9780241517482
Read an Excerpt
A gripping journey into the twisting moral maze of the twentieth century – a journey to uncover a radioactive family secret
'The best book I’ve read in the past year . . . A masterpiece' Financial Times
Joe Dunthorne never met his great-grandfather Siegfried: an eccentric Jewish scientist who escaped Nazi Berlin in the 1930s and snuck back under cover of night to rescue the family heirlooms. Decades later, Siegfried wrote about his adventures in a memoir so long and rambling that almost no one ever managed to read it. Decades after that, his great-grandson Joe unearthed the dusty manuscript and got a nasty surprise. Because hidden on page 1,692 of the unreadable memoir was a shocking confession . . .
‘A voyage into the heart of twentieth-century darkness [...] narrated with the twists and turns of a detective story’ Observer
SHORTLISTED FOR WALES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026
SHORTLISTED FOR THE TLS ACKERLEY PRIZE 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Children of Radium about?
A gripping journey into the twisting moral maze of the twentieth century – a journey to uncover a radioactive family secret
'The best book I’ve read in the past year . . . A masterpiece' Financial Times
Joe Dunthorne never met his great-grandfather Siegfried: an eccentric Jewish scientist who escaped Nazi Berlin in the 1930s and snuck back under cover of night to rescue the family heirlooms. Decades later, Siegfried wrote about his adventures in a memoir so long and rambling that almost no one ever managed to read it. Decades after that, his great-grandson Joe unearthed the dusty manuscript and got a nasty surprise. Because hidden on page 1,692 of the unreadable memoir was a shocking confession . . .
‘A voyage into the heart of twentieth-century darkness [...] narrated with the twists and turns of a detective story’ Observer
SHORTLISTED FOR WALES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026
SHORTLISTED FOR THE TLS ACKERLEY PRIZE 2026
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Children of Radium?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Memoirs
Where can I read a sample of Children of Radium?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241517468
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Children of Radium?
Joe Dunthorne
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Children of Radium is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780241517468) and paperback(ISBN 9780241517475) and ebook(ISBN 9780241517482)
Where can I buy Children of Radium online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Children of Radium from below
Where can I buy Children of Radium?