What was it like to live in the secret city of Los Alamos, New Mexico during World War II, where the world’s first atomic bomb was built? In this captivating lecture, author Galina Vromen draws from extensive research for her historical novel Hill of Secrets to bring to life the hidden world of scientists, families, and military personnel who lived behind barbed wire while making history. Vromen will also explore the complex and often agonizing considerations that led to the decision to use the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Finally, she will examine the legacy of that decision and its lasting impact on nuclear proliferation, ethics, and global security—issues that continue to shape our world today.
Galina Vromen is a former Reuters foreign correspondent with extensive international experience who turned to historical fiction after retirement. Her debut novel, Hill of Secrets, set in World War II Los Alamos, has received widespread acclaim, and her research has deepened her expertise on nuclear arms and their aftermath.
