The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

Kate Moore

Apr 2017 · Sourcebooks, Inc.

About this ebook

A New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts Bestseller!

"The glowing ghosts of the radium girls haunt us still." —NPR Books

Discover the gripping and inspiring true story of The Radium Girls, a groundbreaking work by acclaimed author Kate Moore. Immerse yourself in this compelling narrative that unravels the extraordinary lives of these fearless women who fought against all odds.

The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive—until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come.

With meticulous research and a keen eye for detail, Kate Moore delves into the lives of these remarkable individuals, capturing their resilience, strength, and unwavering determination. Through their stories, she exposes the shocking negligence and corporate cover-ups that plagued the radium industry, ultimately sparking a revolution in workplace safety.

The Radium Girls is a masterful blend of historical account and heartfelt tribute. Moore's vivid prose brings these forgotten heroines back to life, ensuring that their sacrifices and triumphs are forever etched in our collective memory. As you turn each page, you'll be captivated by their indelible legacy and inspired by their enduring spirit.

The Radium Girls is a must-read for history enthusiasts, feminists, and anyone seeking a remarkable story of resilience and empowerment.

Ratings and reviews

Amazing but Heartbreaking True Story. I loved the way this author told of these girls' ordeals . I felt like I knew the girls at the end of their story. So sad, but boy did they ever contribute to workplace abuse and future safety rules! Best book I've read in a long time. I could tell this author spent a lot of time & tears retelling these girls pains and triumphs. Thank-You for this emotional journey, Kate Moore! A+++++++++

What a powerful book. From the first pages, the author beautifully brings these young women to life with direct quotes about how they felt to be a part of this exciting and lucrative industry. When these stories turn heartbreaking, I always am baffled about why the workers don't leave, but here I understood it completely. Some reviewers say they had to read this book slowly because it was too painful to take in large doses. For me it was such an intense page-turner that I read it all in five days, staying up for hours past my normal bedtime because I couldn't bear to wait another day to find out what would happen next to these astonishing women. The research and the writing are the reason I kept reading. Although I was bounced out a couple times by overdramatic authorial asides like "outright lie," the actual quotes from the women and the doctors and the executives would draw me back in. I tend to sympathize with the companies in these situations more than most people do. I imagine they had no way to know the extent of the danger originally, and once they had the evidence, how could they admit to it without putting their entire companies out of business and laying off thousands more employees beyond the ones specifically affected? Although the author doesn't share my viewpoint, she chipped away at my skepticism by providing lots of quotes from.the individual executives and lots of detail about the specific actions they took to mislead the women and their families. Fantastic, compelling book.

It is so incredibly sad that these girls who were just becoming women endured this horrible fate. I admire their strength in the face of adversity and only wish if I ever have something to overcome I do it with a fraction if their tenacity.

About the author

Kate Moore is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Radium Girls, which won the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award for Best History, was voted U.S. librarians’ favorite nonfiction book of 2017,and was named a Notable Nonfiction Book of 2018 by the American Library Association. A British writer based in London, Kate writes across a variety of genres and has had multiple titles on the Sunday Times bestseller list. She is passionate about politics, storytelling, and resurrecting forgotten heroes.