During his marriage, Joe Dunthorne received a ruby and gold ring from his mother, a token that she claimed had “escaped the Nazis.” This family lore was sprinkled with captivating details.

In 1935, at the age of 11, Dunthorne’s grandmother, Dorothea Merzbacher, departed Germany aboard the Orient Express, embarking on a journey of 1,000 miles toward a new life in Turkey. Among her family’s packed belongings were packages of the well-known toothpaste Doramad, infamous for its radioactive components that were said to “protect teeth and gums”—produced in her father’s chemical lab in Oranienburg.

“Most of what I understood about my grandmother’s early life was filtered through family tales, smoothed by repeated storytelling,” Dunthorne reflects, as he introduces the eight-part podcast series, Half-Life: The History on BBC Sounds. There’s the account of how the German-Jewish family boldly returned to Germany for the Berlin Summer Olympics, “while the entire country was on its best behavior,” withdrawing maximum daily funds from their frozen bank accounts, and spending it with a sense of urgency, knowing it would likely be confiscated at the border.

Those who remained behind faced tragic fates—some perished in concentration camps, while others took their own lives. Dorothea’s tale of survival motivated Dunthorne, who is both a novelist and poet. “I hold up my finger, allowing the polished bloodstone to glimmer in the light, recounting my grandmother’s flight from persecution with a clarity that comes from someone who hadn’t engaged in deep research.”

However, when Dunthorne began to verify the facts, he encountered some inconvenient truths. In a 2012 interview with his grandmother, he sensed her exasperation. The 88-year-old Dorothea, visibly bored and anxious for lunch, often scolded him, saying, “You should read history, really, rather than listening to me.” It was only after her passing in 2017 that he understood her frustration might have stemmed from his selective interest in only the most favorable stories.

He delved into the unpublished memoir of her father, Siegfried Merzbacher, a document known in the family for its complex prose. After sifting through “506 pages of preliminary remarks,” his great-grandfather included a confession: “I have betrayed myself… I carry a significant debt on my conscience that I cannot rid myself of.” This was followed by a 13-page narrative detailing Siegfried’s experiences as a Jewish chemist in a poison gas laboratory collaborating with the Nazis.

“Why hadn’t I known this before?” Dunthorne pondered. Yet, had he actively listened to his grandmother, he might have. She had previously mentioned her father’s importance to his employers. This raised another question: Could Siegfried have remained an asset to the regime after the family escaped Germany?

Combining history, memoir, travelogue, and journalism, Dunthorne’s quest unveils a deeply engaging narrative. His journey spans locations including the UK, Berlin, Munich, and Oranienburg—once noted for its radioactive past and its association with Nazi atomic projects and toothpaste production. The journey also takes him to Ankara and further to Dersim, a site of tragic massacres of Kurds in 1937 and 1938.

Dunthorne possesses a knack for storytelling. In Oranienburg, where the remnants of war still necessitate a dedicated bomb squad, he reflects wryly: “My family history felt present under my feet, either quietly emanating radiation or threatening to explode.” The effort is artfully produced by Eleanor McDowall of Falling Tree, known for her insightful projects; sound engineer Mike Woolley enhances the production, while Jeremy Warmsley contributes a haunting score evoking the spirit of klezmer music and compelling piano.

The tone of Half-Life stands in stark contrast to previous BBC History Podcast offerings, such as David Dimbleby’s analytical examination of capitalism in Invisible Hands. While Dimbleby articulated with conviction, Dunthorne reveals uncertainties that underscore the complexities of simplifying historical narratives. Both podcast series resonate with our current lives and historical contexts, culminating in a Berlin event recording in early May.

In the current landscape, I often find myself disillusioned with television history documentaries that prioritize aesthetics over learning. However, the demand for thoughtfully produced audio history shows like Half-Life demonstrates a vibrant appetite for engaging content.

For history enthusiasts, the future looks promising.

What recent podcasts have captured your interest? Share your thoughts in the comments below.