In 1943, Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant, charismatic head of the Manhattan Project, recruited scientists to live as virtual prisoners of the U.S. government at Los Alamos, a barren mesa thirty-five miles outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Thousands of men, women, and children spent the war years sequestered in this top-secret military facility. They lied to friends and family about where they were going and what they were doing and then disappeared into the desert. The women came despite the Army's initial objections, as Oppenheimer insisted that would be the only way to recruit the world-class physicists and keep them reasonably sane and content during the years it would take to create this revolutionary new weapon. Conant shows how the stringent security, lack of privacy, spartan living conditions, and loneliness of the isolated mountain hideaway drove some residents to the brink of despair. Yet only a handful gave up and left. Through the eyes of a young Santa Fe widow who was one of Oppenheimer's first recruits, we see how, for all his flaws, he developed into an inspiring leader and motivated all those involved in the Los Alamos project to make a supreme effort and achieve the unthinkable.
109 East Palace
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"More than any other account of Los Alamos that I've read, Conant's narrative evokes the texture of life there.... A well-told narrative of daily life in a top-secret operation."
-- "Newsday"
About the Author
Jennet Conant's profiles have appeared in Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ, Newsweek, and The New York Times. She was given unrestricted access to Loomis' and Conant's papers, as well as to previously unpublished letters and documents, and she interviewed Loomis' many family members, friends, and colleagues. The granddaughter and grand niece of two of the scientists from the Tuxedo Park community, she is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Columbia University's School of Journalism. She lives in New York City and Sag Harbor with her husband, "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft, and their son.
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THERE WAS SOMETHING about the man, that was all there was to it. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
About 20 miles or so north west of Santa Fe in the central hills and mountains of New Mexico, USA, is the town of Los Alamos, the home of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the birthplace of the nuclear bomb. This book describes that town and the people that developed the bomb during the 30 months leading up to the first test explosion. It is beautifully written book, easy to read, and it brings a human touch to the story, but it merits just 4 stars. The problem is simple: competition. Right now as it was released in 2005 it has an almost direct competitor, the 750 page American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. Also, a quick GOOGLE search will show that there are many books and articles on Oppenheimer and Los Alamos going back at least 4 or 5 decades. Plus there have been books and articles on the Oppenheimer-Lawrence relationship. I had already read at least two books including the 1968 book Lawrence and Oppenheimer by Nuel Pharr Davis, and I read it thirty years ago, plus there are many others, and one or two movies, now so long ago that I now forget which book I read and which I did not, but I did read the Davis book and it had a lot of similar information. So this book is not new and it has competition that other new book is better - in my humble opinion. In any case, this is a good book, but because of the competition just 4 stars.
This book is a bit different from the others in that it involves manily the 30 months leading up to the summer of 1945 at Los Alamos. It describes a number of the key people and the not so well known support staff, and it describes how they were hired.
... Read more ›2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By kindler
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A brilliant account of the Manhattan Project, the development of the atomic bomb, and its key players and after-effects. I have sampled many books on this subject, varying from very factual accounts of the science and politics to very personalised memoirs and biographies. This is the only book so far on the subject that I have managed to read all the way to the end without skipping anything. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the subject.
It is very easy to follow, even for those who know little about the history, and it presents the story and the facts and the people in a very human way. By the end of the book, which ends with the last days of several of the key players, I was left feeling like I knew these people, touched by their passing and taking a moment to pause and consider their lives and work and how everything came together to form what is now regarded as one of the most tragic offences in military history, a unique episode in our semi-recent past. I did find myself having several of those "what if?" moments where you consider how one minor detail being different could literally have changed the course of history on a worldwide scale. This is particularly true of Dorothy's part in the project and it is fascinating to see this civilian/military endeavour described almost first hand.
Having already been familiar with the basic facts from history lessons, I found myself appreciating what I already knew on a much more personal level and in a much more detailed and 'real' way - thinking about these big historical events in everyday terms is often difficult and most people tend to retain only important dates and one-line biographies, rather than an accurate overall picture.... Read more ›
It is very easy to follow, even for those who know little about the history, and it presents the story and the facts and the people in a very human way. By the end of the book, which ends with the last days of several of the key players, I was left feeling like I knew these people, touched by their passing and taking a moment to pause and consider their lives and work and how everything came together to form what is now regarded as one of the most tragic offences in military history, a unique episode in our semi-recent past. I did find myself having several of those "what if?" moments where you consider how one minor detail being different could literally have changed the course of history on a worldwide scale. This is particularly true of Dorothy's part in the project and it is fascinating to see this civilian/military endeavour described almost first hand.
Having already been familiar with the basic facts from history lessons, I found myself appreciating what I already knew on a much more personal level and in a much more detailed and 'real' way - thinking about these big historical events in everyday terms is often difficult and most people tend to retain only important dates and one-line biographies, rather than an accurate overall picture.... Read more ›
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars
54 reviews
88 of 90 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating glimpse into a closed atomic community
8 May 2005
By Wayne Klein
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Everybody knows J. Robert Oppenheimer, Edward Teller and many of the military minds that directed the effort to develop the atomic bomb. Nobody outside of Los Alamos knew Dorothy McKibben. McKibben who ran 109 East Palace was like the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of this war time "Hamlet"-like drama; she viewed the action not from the heart of the research but from the outside at the gateway where she issued security passes, helped new personnel settle in, dealt with complaints about water pressure, food supplies, etc. She knew everything and nothing about the community she helped as she wasn't privy to the secret goal of the Los Alamos community.
While author Jennet Conant doesn't ignore the work they were trying to accomplish, she focuses on the human element that made it possible for the work to occur. Conant provides a detailed and intimate look into the insular community that labored to build the ultimate bomb to finish the "ultimate war". One of the most fascinating sections of the book called "Summer Lighning" deals with Klaus Fuchs who arrived at Los Alamos after doing research for the Manhattan Project on gaseous diffusion. He came to help figure out the implosion problem at the request of Peierls a German physcist working in the US. McKibben never had a suspicion that Fuchs might be betraying the secret work at Los Alamos to the Soviets until it was too late.
Conant who it is noted is the granddaughter of James B. Conant (the chief administrator on the Manhattan Project)has a unique insider's perspective. Conant doesn't shy away from the issue about Oppenheimer's loyalty; she reports that Captain Peer de Silva took an immediate dislike to Oppenheimer and believed, based on his file, that Oppenheimer would betray the United States in a hot second. De Silva went so far as to write a memo to Washington stating that very point creating havoc for General Groves the military head of the operation who knew how much they needed Oppenheimer to make the project work. Illustrated with 16 pages of photos showing what life was like inside the camp, Conant's book looks at a pivotal time in history from a very different perspective--the human perspective and she wisely allows this perspective to dominate her book differienating it from others that examine much of the same time and material.
While author Jennet Conant doesn't ignore the work they were trying to accomplish, she focuses on the human element that made it possible for the work to occur. Conant provides a detailed and intimate look into the insular community that labored to build the ultimate bomb to finish the "ultimate war". One of the most fascinating sections of the book called "Summer Lighning" deals with Klaus Fuchs who arrived at Los Alamos after doing research for the Manhattan Project on gaseous diffusion. He came to help figure out the implosion problem at the request of Peierls a German physcist working in the US. McKibben never had a suspicion that Fuchs might be betraying the secret work at Los Alamos to the Soviets until it was too late.
Conant who it is noted is the granddaughter of James B. Conant (the chief administrator on the Manhattan Project)has a unique insider's perspective. Conant doesn't shy away from the issue about Oppenheimer's loyalty; she reports that Captain Peer de Silva took an immediate dislike to Oppenheimer and believed, based on his file, that Oppenheimer would betray the United States in a hot second. De Silva went so far as to write a memo to Washington stating that very point creating havoc for General Groves the military head of the operation who knew how much they needed Oppenheimer to make the project work. Illustrated with 16 pages of photos showing what life was like inside the camp, Conant's book looks at a pivotal time in history from a very different perspective--the human perspective and she wisely allows this perspective to dominate her book differienating it from others that examine much of the same time and material.
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The human dynamics of the Manhattan Project
7 Oct 2005
By P. Lozar
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Ten years ago, I taught part-time at the University of New Mexico's small Los Alamos campus. One day a huge thunderstorm marooned me in the lobby of the building along with a cheerful elderly woman who, I soon learned, had come to Los Alamos as a WAC to work on the Manhattan Project. For the next half-hour, I heard her fascinating stories about the laboratory and the community during the early years. When the rain finally stopped and we parted, I reflected that, although the scientific aspects of the project had been amply documented, there was another human story still waiting to be written.
I'm glad that Jennet Conant has written that story. Besides having an "inside track" through her grandfather's involvement in the Manhattan Project, she was able to access Dorothy McKibbin's memoirs, and she also makes good use of other unpublished materials as well as interviewing the people involved. This isn't a scientific account of the project, it's the story of the people behind it: from the unlikely team of Oppenheimer and Gen. Groves, to the locals who worked as maids and construction workers in the secret community on the hill -- and Dorothy, who held it all together, and whose story is used to structure the book.
Bringing together a motley collection of physicists, engineers, and military experts to construct "the Gadget" was impressive enough -- but the project didn't exist in a vacuum. The technical staff were people who had to be housed, fed, and clothed, and many of them brought families and children whose needs had to be accommodated too. As director, Oppenheimer had to deal with both the scientific and the personal aspects of the project, and this book well describes the human dynamics that he contended with on both fronts. It's gossipy, just like my ex-WAC acquaintance, but it's an enthralling story. And when Dorothy, like the other locals, finally comes to realize what the project was all about, the author well conveys their ambivalence: upon viewing the blast from Sandia Peak, Dorothy reflects, "Everything had changed."
The book is an easy read, but it's by no means lightweight, and I recommend it highly as a necessary supplement to the many good "scientific" books on the Manhattan Project.
I'm glad that Jennet Conant has written that story. Besides having an "inside track" through her grandfather's involvement in the Manhattan Project, she was able to access Dorothy McKibbin's memoirs, and she also makes good use of other unpublished materials as well as interviewing the people involved. This isn't a scientific account of the project, it's the story of the people behind it: from the unlikely team of Oppenheimer and Gen. Groves, to the locals who worked as maids and construction workers in the secret community on the hill -- and Dorothy, who held it all together, and whose story is used to structure the book.
Bringing together a motley collection of physicists, engineers, and military experts to construct "the Gadget" was impressive enough -- but the project didn't exist in a vacuum. The technical staff were people who had to be housed, fed, and clothed, and many of them brought families and children whose needs had to be accommodated too. As director, Oppenheimer had to deal with both the scientific and the personal aspects of the project, and this book well describes the human dynamics that he contended with on both fronts. It's gossipy, just like my ex-WAC acquaintance, but it's an enthralling story. And when Dorothy, like the other locals, finally comes to realize what the project was all about, the author well conveys their ambivalence: upon viewing the blast from Sandia Peak, Dorothy reflects, "Everything had changed."
The book is an easy read, but it's by no means lightweight, and I recommend it highly as a necessary supplement to the many good "scientific" books on the Manhattan Project.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The fascinating tale of Los Alamos
29 July 2005
By Zachary Zelmar
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
109 East Palace presents a surprisingly engaging story about the members of the atomic bomb project in Los Alamos. The author, Jennet Conant, states early on that she is focusing on the human side of project's history: the technical aspects have been well covered elsewhere. The brilliant and colorful denizens of Los Alamos threw wild parties, worked long hours, and chafed under mandates of government secrecy.
In the midst of World War II, an undertaking this monumental had to remain strictly secret. The community was built atop a small school in the middle of the desert. The only link to civilization was across a long, unreliable road and an inadequate bridge. Naturally, logistics were strained. An entire town was built from scratch, and it was in constant construction for years. Scientists, engineers, their families, and soldiers streamed into Los Alamos. They crammed into small apartments with thin walls, and all housing for miles around was filled. Electricity was usually unavailable, and cooking took hours using ancient stoves. Rules limited their ability to leave town or communicate with the outside world.
Although these conditions caused some conflict, the citizens responded amazingly well. The insular community became very intimate. They worked at an exhausting pace, anxious to develop the bomb that could end the war and save American lives, and then released their tension by engaging in wild parties. Entranced with their beautiful environment, they went on long hikes and skied in the winter. Los Alamos became a wonderful and sociable place to live.
Although Conant describes many people, she focuses mainly on Robert Oppenheimer and Dorothy McKibbin. Oppenheimer was the intensely charismatic director of Los Alamos. McKibbin held an office in Santa Fe and served as the link between the top-secret community and the outside world. She handled many administrative issues and addressed everyone's complaints with superhuman patience. Oppenheimer and McKibbin contributed greatly to the Project's unity and success, and they rise up as heroes during the story.
The rest of the story provides great drama. After completing the bomb, the scientists reflect on the responsibility of creating a destructive weapon. Later, the weary Oppenheimer faces anti-communist wrath.
109 East Palace is definitely worth reading. It presents an inspiring tale of citizens coming together during great adversity and proving triumphant.
-Zach Zelmar
In the midst of World War II, an undertaking this monumental had to remain strictly secret. The community was built atop a small school in the middle of the desert. The only link to civilization was across a long, unreliable road and an inadequate bridge. Naturally, logistics were strained. An entire town was built from scratch, and it was in constant construction for years. Scientists, engineers, their families, and soldiers streamed into Los Alamos. They crammed into small apartments with thin walls, and all housing for miles around was filled. Electricity was usually unavailable, and cooking took hours using ancient stoves. Rules limited their ability to leave town or communicate with the outside world.
Although these conditions caused some conflict, the citizens responded amazingly well. The insular community became very intimate. They worked at an exhausting pace, anxious to develop the bomb that could end the war and save American lives, and then released their tension by engaging in wild parties. Entranced with their beautiful environment, they went on long hikes and skied in the winter. Los Alamos became a wonderful and sociable place to live.
Although Conant describes many people, she focuses mainly on Robert Oppenheimer and Dorothy McKibbin. Oppenheimer was the intensely charismatic director of Los Alamos. McKibbin held an office in Santa Fe and served as the link between the top-secret community and the outside world. She handled many administrative issues and addressed everyone's complaints with superhuman patience. Oppenheimer and McKibbin contributed greatly to the Project's unity and success, and they rise up as heroes during the story.
The rest of the story provides great drama. After completing the bomb, the scientists reflect on the responsibility of creating a destructive weapon. Later, the weary Oppenheimer faces anti-communist wrath.
109 East Palace is definitely worth reading. It presents an inspiring tale of citizens coming together during great adversity and proving triumphant.
-Zach Zelmar
›
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