Book cover of The Fly in the Cathedral: How a Group of Cambridge Scientists Won the International Race to Split the Atom

Book description

"Cathcart tells this exhilarating story with both verve and precision" --The Sunday Telegraph

Re-creating the frustrations, excitements, and obsessions of 1932, the "miracle year" of British physics, Brian Cathcart reveals in rich detail the astonishing story behind the splitting of the atom. The most celebrated scientific experiment of its time,…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Fly in the Cathedral as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is a thrilling book that tells the story of the quest to split the atom in the 1920s and 30s at Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory.

I love the way Cathcart brings historic characters like Ernest Rutherford to life on the page, and really gets across the excitement of a period where physicists were making incredibly rapid progress in understanding the deepest workings of nature.

From Harry's list on the universe and our cosmic origins.

If you love The Fly in the Cathedral...

Ad

Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Want books like The Fly in the Cathedral?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Fly in the Cathedral.

Browse books like The Fly in the Cathedral

Book cover of Helgoland: Making Sense of the Quantum Revolution
Book cover of A Short History of Nearly Everything
Book cover of The Magic Furnace: The Search for the Origins of Atoms

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,210

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like The Fly in the Cathedral, you might also like...

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Book cover of Living On Purpose: Five Deliberate Choices to Realize Fulfillment and Joy

Living On Purpose by Amy Wong,

Many people from all walks of life, even after many accomplishments and experiences, are often plagued by dissatisfaction, pervasive longing, and deep questioning. These feelings may make them wonder if they are living the life they were meant to lead.

Living on Purpose is the guidebook these people have been…

5 book lists we think you will like!