Nuclear Archipelago
Elizabeth Tynan
Nuclear Archipelago is the final book in Elizabeth Tynan’s landmark trilogy on the history of British nuclear testing in Australia. These acclaimed books have won major awards, with Simon Caterson writing in The Australian: ‘This multi-volume work must rate as one of the most significant projects currently being undertaken in the study of Australian history.’
Now, in Nuclear Archipelago, Tynan takes on the little-known Western Australian end of the program – the two atomic weapons test series held on the Monte Bello Islands, in 1952 (Operation Hurricane) and 1956 (Operation Mosaic). She explores the politics, the secrecy, and the controversies, including Prime Minister Robert Menzies agreeing immediately to the tests without consulting his Cabinet. And, in the second of the two Mosaic tests (by far the largest atomic weapon detonated in Australia), when crews from British and Australian ships were positioned in the path of fallout, which ended up covering most of the continent. And the ongoing effects – the pristine and biodiverse natural environment of the northwest coast of the country was desecrated and has never been cleaned up.
- Release
- May-2026
- ISBN
- 9781761170218
- RRP (AUD)
- $39.99
- Pages
- 384
- Format
- Paperback & ebook
Elizabeth Tynan works at the James Cook University Graduate Research School in Townsville, Australia
NewSouth Publishing
NewSouth Publishing is the publishing division of UNSW Press Ltd, a leading Australian university press.
- Rights
-
World excluding ANZ
- Contact
-
Joumana Awad
- Website