The Radium Girls - Kate Moore - The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

The Radium Girls: 

The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

Kate Moore

Source Books

ISBN 9781492650959

eISBN 9781492649366

ASIN B01N7KMS7X

I give books 5/5 stars for a variety of reasons, I really enjoyed it (that was not the case here), or it is  very important or meaningful book (Absolutely the case here). I try and read one volume a year on the Holocaust not because I enjoy them but because it is important. That is how I feel about this volume; it is a very important read. But as a father of 3 daughters it was at times a very hard read. There were a few times I had to put it down because of the pains, agonies, and disfigurements these young girls and women endured and after the first few years at the wilful misleading of them by the corporation and men in charge. 

The description of this volume begins with:

“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.”

The sections in this volume are:

List of Key Characters

Prologue

Part One: Knowledge

Part Two: Power

Part Three: Justice

Epilogue

Postscript

Author’s Note

Acknowledgments

Reading Group Guide

Picture Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

The first chapter in Part one has a title of: NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA —1917— and the final chapter of part 3 ends in 1939. Unfortunately the postscript informs us this type of work continued up until 1978. 

This story would be a tragedy if the company very early on did not know that it was in fact to blame. But the goal of profits and cheap labour overruled a human response in this situation. And the company and its executives just kept playing at shadows and changing the game time and time again.

There are many stories of labourers fighting for what is right, just, and even humane. Miners, Oil workers, and many more come to mind. But In this case with it being young women as young as 14, and the known and proved culpability and pure dishonesty of those in charge is staggering. One of the worst examples is the supposed Doctor who was never licensed nor studies medicine. 

This was a very hard read. It is one that will churn your gut. But it is well worth the read. I remember which friend recommended it, and wish I had read it earlier. I doubt I could make it through the movie based on it. It is an excellent story, well researched and masterfully presented.