This title was chosen for the Spring selection of Ten Books from Holland by the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

Whilst writing her successful debut Obligatory Happy, Saskia Goldschmidt encountered a storyline that tickled her imagination. In the 1930’s a distant family member of her set out to extract hormones like testosterone from the offal of the meat factory. With this idea he was the founder of an international pharmaceutical company. But by doing random tests on the girls from the factory they were balancing on the edge of entrepreneurship and ethics.

Love and envy between brothers, conflicting interests between commerce and science, factory girls stuffed with estrus hormones and testosterone driven guys - The Hormone Factory is a chilling story, inspired by historical facts. In which the views on good and evil are clouded by the lust for progress.

The successful entrepreneur Mordechai de Paauw - Motke for friends - looks back on his life while lying in a bed with an iron bedside, vaguely resembling the cages in which his lab rats were held. He realizes that he has failed to lead a respectable life.

He and his twin brother Aron started a breathtaking project in the 1920's. With the help of the famous professor and pharmacologist Rafaël Levine they established a company that processes the waste meat of Motkes abattoir to develop hormone preparations.

The starting conditions aren't favorable. The catholic country town is struck by crime and poverty. And the rise of fascism in the 1930's makes the air thick with a toxic mixture. But Motke carries on and it seems that no prices is too high for him. But when WOII has ended and everyone looks back, it appears that no one has made it through this period without getting a few scars.

'A story written with color and momentum.' - de Volkskrant

'A beautiful novel about the proud tyrant De Pauw, that is based on imagination, but probably contains a lot more truth than we would like.' - Brabants Dagblad

'Goldschmidt's tone is fascinating, picturesque and humorous. The fantastic formulated passage about the existence of God is hilarious. She has written a enthralling story in which she seduces the reader with beautiful sentences.' - Literair Nederland

'If you want to you can read The Hormone Factory as a indictment against the ruthless capitalist. If you don't care for a message you can induldge yourself in a villain's story. A villain you wouldn't want to get close to, but you'll be mesmerized by his last words until death is merciful on him.' - Recensieweb ****

'The success of The Hormone Factory isn't just Motkes fascinating wickedness. But he is the heart of this exciting story in which the birth of modern medical science, post-war prosperity and science and commerce bargaining come together. It makes Motke a classical bad guy. He doesn't settle for less and creates changes, for better or for worse.' - 8weekly.nl

'A well written novel. Full of shame you read the motives of a successful entrepreneur who abuses his power shamelessly. He often gets away with it but not at home, which he finds out too late.' - Krings Book sellers ****

'A fascinating novel about the rise of a factory that isn't keen on honoring values. A pretty exciting story that you want to finish in one reading. A fetching story, also for young readers.' - Scholieren.com

'A strong book. Goldschmidt has a fine style of writing and knows how to build a good story. She also knows how to create good and credible characters. A true recommendation.' - de Leesfabriek

          Longlisted for: