Finished July 12
A Fierce Radiance by Lauren Belfer
Set in New York City during World War II, this novel follows the character Claire Shipley, a photographer for Life magazine, divorced single mother as she does her work and raises her son.
Claire is assigned to a story on penicillin, following the treatment of a patient at the Rockefeller Institute. Having lost a child to an infection, Claire is touched personally by the story. She is attracted to the lead doctor on the team, James Stanton.
We see the fascinating science going on during this time period, and the manipulation and intrigue surrounding it. Not only penicillin was being worked on during this period, but also antibacterial drugs, developed by natural substances found in soil. The was means government involvement in penicillin as its success will impact the troops.
There is so much going on in this book that it makes it feel like an epic although it covers a relatively short time period. With the war, the impact of Life magazine and the range of stories it tells, life in New York City at this time, science influenced by government and corporate greed, and human relationships this book tells a strong, cohesive story that gripped me to the end.
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