Best of the Spectator The Book Club: Joe Dunthorne
Apr 2, 2025
In this engaging conversation, poet and novelist Joe Dunthorne discusses his new book, *Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance*. He explores the troubled legacy of his great-grandfather, a Jewish scientist linked to Nazi chemical weapons. Joe dives into themes of historical guilt and family secrets, revealing the psychological conflicts surrounding ethics and denial. He also shares how humor can coexist with trauma, illustrating his quixotic journey through the remnants of a radioactive past, filled with both poignant narratives and absurd anecdotes.
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Unintentional Book
- Joe Dunthorne initially intended to write a book about his grandmother's life.
- After interviewing her, he realized his perception of her childhood in 1920s-30s Germany was inaccurate.
Eastward Escape
- Dunthorne's Jewish family fled eastward to Turkey, rather than westward, during the 1930s.
- This unusual direction for Jewish refugees during that time sparked curiosity.
Hidden Confession
- After his grandmother's death, Dunthorne read his great-grandfather's 2,000-page memoir.
- He discovered a hidden confession at the end, where his great-grandfather admitted working with chemical weapons for the Nazis.
