Rosalind Franklin : The Dark Lady of DNA

Rating:
Summary: A Very Human Portrayal
Review: This is a well-researched book of respectable volume divided into three parts. The first one gives a lengthy history of Rosalind, her family, and other generalities (including her love for everything French and a penchant for hiking). The second delves into Franklin's connection to DNA, and the third part focuses on her work after she left the Kings lab to pursue other projects (in viruses especially).

Like many other people, I first learnt about Rosalind in Watson's book, "The Double Helix", in which she was horribly caricatured. I chose to read the book because I wanted to know more about this "dark lady" - and I am happy to say that my thirst was quenched. The author uses a wealth of first-hand material, including Rosalind's many letters to various people. Although Franklin is said to have had a sharp and impatient tongue, the book demonstrates that she was also a good friend and a diligent scientist. She was a hard worker in spite of all the hardships of being a woman (and Jewish) in an arena that was mostly male.

I really think that the book does justice to Rosalind in highlighting how her work was undervalued and unappreciated. The book summarizes it all when it states that "she had provided all the essential data for those who took the two brilliant leaps of intuition". I would definitely recommend this book if you want to know more about Rosalind Franklin and her connection to DNA.