The Plight of the Radical’s Children
Harriet Clark's debut novel, The Hill, explores the impact of radical ideology on family through the lens of her own upbringing. The story follows Suzanna, the daughter of a jailed revolutionary, as she navigates the complexities of her family's past and the humanizing influence of childhood. Clark's narrative highlights the tension between political beliefs and personal relationships, ultimately suggesting that the pursuit of happiness can transcend rigid ideologies.
- ▪Harriet Clark is the daughter of Judy Clark, a member of the Weather Underground who was sentenced to 75 years for her involvement in a robbery that resulted in multiple deaths.
- ▪The Hill portrays Suzanna's visits to her mother in prison and the influence of her grandparents, who were disillusioned American Communists.
- ▪The novel emphasizes the theme that the presence of children can challenge and soften the harshness of uncompromising political ideologies.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
BooksThe Plight of the Radical’s ChildrenA new novel by Harriet Clark, the daughter of a jailed revolutionary, shows that rigid ideology is no match for the humanizing presence of a child.By Julius TarantoIllustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Getty.June 1, 2026, 7 AM ET ShareSave The Russian Revolution aimed to dissolve the family. Neither true equality nor true freedom could be achieved, the Bolsheviks argued, until class bonds trumped all other loyalties—that is, until people no longer felt greater responsibility toward their family than they did toward strangers. “The worker-mother must learn not to differentiate between yours and mine,” Alexandra Kollontai, the Soviet Union’s first people’s commissar for social welfare, wrote.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
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