The Girls of Atomic City The Girls of Atomic City

The Girls of Atomic City

The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II

    • 3.8 • 229 Ratings
    • $14.99

Publisher Description

The New York Times bestseller, now available in paperback—an incredible true story of the top-secret World War II town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the young women brought there unknowingly to help build the atomic bomb.

“The best kind of nonfiction: marvelously reported, fluidly written, and a remarkable story...As meticulous and brilliant as it is compulsively readable.” —Karen Abbott, author of Sin in the Second City

At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was home to 75,000 residents, and consumed more electricity than New York City, yet it was shrouded in such secrecy that it did not appear on any map. Thousands of civilians, many of them young women from small towns across the U.S., were recruited to this secret city, enticed by the promise of solid wages and war-ending work. What were they actually doing there? Very few knew. The purpose of this mysterious government project was kept a secret from the outside world and from the majority of the residents themselves. Some wondered why, despite the constant work and round-the-clock activity in this makeshift town, did no tangible product of any kind ever seem to leave its guarded gates? The women who kept this town running would find out at the end of the war, when Oak Ridge’s secret was revealed and changed the world forever.

Drawing from the voices and experiences of the women who lived and worked in Oak Ridge, The Girls of Atomic City rescues a remarkable, forgotten chapter of World War II from obscurity. Denise Kiernan captures the spirit of the times through these women: their pluck, their desire to contribute, and their enduring courage. “A phenomenal story,” and Publishers Weekly called it an “intimate and revealing glimpse into one of the most important scientific developments in history.”

“Kiernan has amassed a deep reservoir of intimate details of what life was like for women living in the secret city...Rosie, it turns out, did much more than drive rivets.” —The Washington Post

GENRE
Biographies & Memoirs
RELEASED
2013
March 5
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
400
Pages
PUBLISHER
Atria Books
SELLER
Simon & Schuster Digital Sales LLC
SIZE
37.8
MB

Customer Reviews

winteroses ,

Engaging history book!

This story was a part of WWII history that's never been featured in a film nor figured predominantly in history textbooks. It was very interesting to read as the author gave character (not fictionalized) to the voices of those she wrote about. I even learned some things I never knew before about the war generally & the U.S.'s ethics. It was fascinating that we essentially treated our people the same way that the people we were fighting treated their citizens, & no one questioned it.
Highly recommend this book!

MGDRRR ,

The Determination Women Played Winning World War II.

A true life story in detail of the sacrifices women made to end War II to bring their loved ones home in one piece. Even though they worked in secrecy, they never questioned their duty to their country and their loved ones.

howelldc ,

Really good book

Having been to Oak Ridge many times since 1989 and working in radiation safety, I thoroughly enjoyed this book...many thanks to the fine ladies who toiled and helped win the war, my hat's off to you...great research and I learned a thing or two, good job!

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