By Samantha Wilcoxson
Publication Date: 2nd June 2020
Everyone knew that Radium Dial paid well, so when Catherine saw a job advertisement in the paper, she knew it was an opportunity too good to miss.
Catherine soon settles into her new job at Radium Dial, and she finds herself in a position where she can begin saving some money for the future. Moreover, she has finally found companionship, a bustling social life, and regularly attends parties. So, when she begins to feel pain in her hip, she doesn’t take that much notice, even when the pain becomes so bad she begins limping. Her life is going splendidly, and she has nothing to complain about. Apart from that persistent pain that isn’t easing.
A tremendous story of a fight against a large corporation, society, and life itself, Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl by Samantha Wilcoxson brings to light what it was to live as a sufferer of radium poisoning, brushed aside with no compensation in sight, and the ever-glowing light at the end of the tunnel shining brighter each day.
As Catherine starts her job, meticulously applying radium paint to watch dials and causing the numbers to illuminate in darkness, she feels a sense of fulfilment. As she immerses herself in the repetitive motions of dipping the brush in paint, bringing it to her lips to create a fine point, and applying the paint to the watch face, Catherine realizes how much she enjoys her job, especially the camaraderie she shares with the other girls. She finds satisfaction in her work, aware that she has a job that is highly sought after by other girls. However, Catherine’s confidence in the safety of her job wavers as newspaper articles emerge, reporting lawsuits against Radium Dial for the deaths of young girls due to ‘radium poisoning’. Doubts about the safety of working with radium paint start to arise, challenging the narrative presented by her employers. She would leave her workplace every day, her body coated in a shimmering layer of radiant dust. The young women surrounding her enthusiastically adorned their nails with the mesmerizing substance, revelling in the magical luminescence it bestowed upon their fingertips. Nonetheless, was it wise to be in such intimate proximity to the substance without questioning its safety? Besides taking her bosses’ word for it, what evidence existed to prove it wasn’t dangerous?
Though not a household name, Catherine Donohue captured the attention of newspapers in the 1930s. She was one of the women who applied radium-laced paint to watches, clocks, and instrument dials, making them glow. Catherine and many women like her were exposed to deadly levels of radium poison. As she neared death, weakened by radium, she mustered the energy for a long-delayed legal battle against Radium Dial. Initially, she was in a fortunate position, living in a house without any mortgage or rent, as she had inherited it from her aunt and uncle. She also had a substantial amount of savings from her time at Radium Dial. But Catherine’s funds had long since run out. Catherine exhausted her resources on medical tests, experimental treatments, doctor fees, and countless appointments, with nothing to show for it. She showed no signs of improvement, her condition worsened daily, and no new doctor had any more effective approaches. Her condition had no known cure, and many doubted the existence of radium poisoning. At a time when the disease was not widely acknowledged, there was no sign of any treatment. To spare future dial painters from the same agony, a legal fight against Radium Dial appeared to be the necessary path. And a settlement that could cover the cost of her medical bills would go a long way. Catherine was truly a beacon of hope for those who were suffering in silence. Her legal battle was highly publicized as she made numerous appearances in the papers, despite her physical limitations, she courageously fought against a powerful company and made her voice heard. The retelling of Catherine’s life by Ms. Wilcoxson truly captures her incredible determination and unbelievable strength.
Catherine, of course, could not have done everything by herself and was lucky to have an incredible support system in place. Her husband, Tom, was an absolute saint. He stood by her every step of the way, marrying her despite her limp, and making sure she was as comfortable as physically possible when her illness progressed. Ms Wilcoxson has written an outstanding novel that evokes genuine emotions. While reading, you experience the fear, pain, and despair and the realisation that countless women were deceived and suffered irreversible consequences, even losing their lives, all for the sake of a company’s greed that showed no concern for its employees, it was only focused on meeting quotas. The realistic portrayal of Catherine in the book intensifies its emotional impact. With knowledge of radium’s perils, reading through a contemporary lens brings a sense of impending doom. And as the story progresses the reader feels nothing but empathy for Catherine’s plight and anger at her employers' seeming inability to maintain the health, safety and well-being of their employees. It’s a genuinely impactful and thought-provoking read.
Samantha Wilcoxson’s Luminous: The Story of a Radium Girl is an emotional masterpiece. This book leaves a lasting impact on readers, with its incredible story and unforgettable characters that stay with you long after the final page.
Congratulations, Samantha.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
DeleteThat is my Sunday read sorted!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate this thoughtful review! I'm glad you enjoyed Catherine's story.
ReplyDelete