Publication
Waterville : Thorndike Press, 2022.
Collection
Call number
Large Print Fiction B
Physical description
461 p.; 22 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
"Rosalind Franklin knows if she just takes one more X-ray picture-one more after thousands-she can unlock the building blocks of life. Never again will she have to listen to her colleagues complain about her, especially Maurice Wilkins who'd rather conspire about genetics with James Watson and Francis Crick than work alongside her. Then it finally happens-the double helix structure of DNA reveals itself to her with perfect clarity. But what happens next, Rosalind could have never predicted. Marie Benedict's next powerful novel shines a light on a woman who died to discover our very DNA, a woman whose contributions were suppressed by the men around her but whose relentless drive advanced our understanding of humankind"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member Mishker
In post World War II France, Rosalind Franklin enters a new position at a lab that welcomes her as an equal, an opportunity she didn't have in England. Rosalind loves the camaraderie of the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de l'État and becomes one of the top researchers in X-ray
As a female scientist I have always revered the female pioneers who paved the way and made it possible for me to enter my field. While Her Hidden Genius is a work of fiction, it has obviously been meticulously researched and includes many facts of Rosalind's life while researching DNA. Rosalind had an incredibly difficult path to forge. Despite her family being wealthy, Rosalind was a Jewish woman in post World War II Europe entering the field of scientific research. Immediately, Rosalind's passion for the science, details and finding the truth shone through. I was immersed in Rosalind's time in the lab and the atmosphere of the science labs at the time. The writing did a wonderful job of explaining the science of Rosalind's projects while showing the human side of the science as well. I enjoyed reading about the camaraderie in the lab as well as the competition. I was enraged as Rosalind questioned her brusqueness of her tone and words to the men around her while those men were quite literally stealing her data. Rosalind amazed me with her ability to move forward and fight for her science as well as her grace and acceptance that Watson and Crick published their results first based on her research. While Rosalind might have been forgotten for a time and seen through the eyes of her male researchers, Her Hidden Genius is a step in giving Rosalind Franklin the recognition she deserves.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
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crystallography. Rosalind decides to leave France and join King's College London where she is given a new research topic to use her expertise in X-Ray crystallography for- DNA. Rosalind is unwittingly thrown into the race to figure out the properties and form of DNA. Rosalind finds competition within her own lab as her colleague Maurice Wilkins conspires against her and collaborates with Watson and Crick who are not even supposed to be working on DNA. Despite the difficult conditions, Rosalind pushes through until the hidden details of DNA reveal themselves to her. As a female scientist I have always revered the female pioneers who paved the way and made it possible for me to enter my field. While Her Hidden Genius is a work of fiction, it has obviously been meticulously researched and includes many facts of Rosalind's life while researching DNA. Rosalind had an incredibly difficult path to forge. Despite her family being wealthy, Rosalind was a Jewish woman in post World War II Europe entering the field of scientific research. Immediately, Rosalind's passion for the science, details and finding the truth shone through. I was immersed in Rosalind's time in the lab and the atmosphere of the science labs at the time. The writing did a wonderful job of explaining the science of Rosalind's projects while showing the human side of the science as well. I enjoyed reading about the camaraderie in the lab as well as the competition. I was enraged as Rosalind questioned her brusqueness of her tone and words to the men around her while those men were quite literally stealing her data. Rosalind amazed me with her ability to move forward and fight for her science as well as her grace and acceptance that Watson and Crick published their results first based on her research. While Rosalind might have been forgotten for a time and seen through the eyes of her male researchers, Her Hidden Genius is a step in giving Rosalind Franklin the recognition she deserves.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member jetangen4571
physicist, Jewish, historical-novel, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, biology, post WW2*****
This is a fictionalized biography (no one honestly records conversations and personal feelings in real time) of yet another gifted
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley. Thank you.
This is a fictionalized biography (no one honestly records conversations and personal feelings in real time) of yet another gifted
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scientist whose work was appropriated and demeaned by select colleagues (in this case Watson and Crick). Women at this time were still disregarded by men who felt threatened by the brilliance of an *other*. Very well written and an honor to one whose devotion to science resulted in a life cut short.I requested and received a free ebook copy from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley. Thank you.
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LibraryThing member fredreeca
Rosalind is a woman scientist in a man’s world. She has struggled through her life fighting against the mainstream. However, Rosalind is determined to show the world what she can do! She knows she can find the building blocks of life and what makes all of us tick! And she believes nothing is
This is not my favorite book by this author. This story just drags in places. But, I did enjoy the science. I always do. I wrote a term paper in college about some of the types of the X-rays discussed in this story. So, parts of this did feel a bit like a text book. However, Marie Benedict always has a woman with a backbone as her main character. This is why I always enjoy her books. And Rosalind is a woman everyone needs to read about and learn from.
Need a book about a strong woman…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
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going to stop her…until she gets cancer.This is not my favorite book by this author. This story just drags in places. But, I did enjoy the science. I always do. I wrote a term paper in college about some of the types of the X-rays discussed in this story. So, parts of this did feel a bit like a text book. However, Marie Benedict always has a woman with a backbone as her main character. This is why I always enjoy her books. And Rosalind is a woman everyone needs to read about and learn from.
Need a book about a strong woman…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
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LibraryThing member Penny_L
Fact-based historical fiction books are my favorite reads. I have a degree in Science, and thought this book would be wonderful.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming technical facts took away from the story, and made it a rather dry read. It lacked atmosphere and backdrop - the details that pull a
This book felt more like required course work reading than historical fiction.
*Thank you Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming technical facts took away from the story, and made it a rather dry read. It lacked atmosphere and backdrop - the details that pull a
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reader into the story setting.This book felt more like required course work reading than historical fiction.
*Thank you Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
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LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
I always enjoy Marie Benedict's books and this is no exception! I didn't know anything about Rosalind Franklin and her work with DNA so enjoyed reading this book. Actually sat down and read it straight through today!
LibraryThing member nivramkoorb
I have read everyone of Marie Benedict's novels(her sister is my next door neighbor). Although her writing style of the fictionalized aspects of her story can be somewhat melodramatic, her choice of subjects is always spot on. She does a great job of introducing us to women in history who were
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great contributors but never received the recognition and acclaim that they deserved. Having recently read " The Code Breaker" by Walter Isaacson, I was aware of Franklin's contribution to the discovery of the nature of DNA. In that book it was made clear that the men who received the Nobel Prize for the discovery of the DNA double helix(Watson, Crick, and Wilkins) used Franklin's research without her approval as the basis for their conclusions. They clearly took advantage of the view of the 1950's world about women scientists and women's achievements in general. This is what Benedict does best. She imagines her characters feelings about the real parts of their life so that we can get a glimpse into the obstacles they had to overcome and their feelings about those obstacles. It allows us to learn about the real Rosalind Franklin in a dramatic way that allows for a wider audience to learn about her achievements. Looking forward to Benedict's next choice. Show Less
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
I think I'm becoming ever more of a Marie Benedict fan, although that may also reflect a shared interest in her subject matters. In this novel, she tackles the story of Rosalind Franklin, a remarkable scientist whose work on DNA is pivotal. Unfortunately, Franklin was denigrated by her fellow
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scientists and her data was appropriated by others who were credited with discovering DNA. Franklin's story, at least as presented in this novel, is also a familiar tale of women in the workplace and the value of finding a workplace in which one is respected and truly welcomed over participating in cutting-edge research. A good read and a great introduction to a scientist who deserves more attention. Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
Excellent historical fiction about Rosalind Franklin, a groundbreaking scientist whose work in discovering the double helix and pioneering DNA research, which was taken by Watson and Crick without credit to Franklin. Very readable and interesting to read about this amazing strong and brilliant
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woman. Show Less
LibraryThing member Micareads
Rosalind Franklin has always been different from other members of her family - she has created a career for herself in science - a field where women are not known to succeed or be taken seriously. After working at a laboratory in Paris and having to leave due to a broken heart, Rosalind arrives at
Using her experience with x-ray crystallography skills, she takes repeated pictures of the structure of DNA until she finally takes Photo 51 - the photo that showcases the pure form of DNA - the double helix. The problem is there are other people who want to beat her to the reveal of the structure of life and they will do anything to make that happen.
Despite the fact that she is never given the credit she deserved and others were awarded the Nobel Prize based on her work, Rosalind Franklin never turned away from her love of science - even when it is believed to be the reason behind her death. Rosalind Franklin died of ovarian cancer thought to have been caused by her close working proximity to radiation.
I am a huge fan of Marie Benedict and will read any and everything she writes. There is always a large amount of research and care given to each woman's story in order to fully tell their story. I will always recommend a Marie Benedict novel to anyone interested in one.
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a laboratory in London and is given a new but important assignment - help break down and find the truth behind DNA.Using her experience with x-ray crystallography skills, she takes repeated pictures of the structure of DNA until she finally takes Photo 51 - the photo that showcases the pure form of DNA - the double helix. The problem is there are other people who want to beat her to the reveal of the structure of life and they will do anything to make that happen.
Despite the fact that she is never given the credit she deserved and others were awarded the Nobel Prize based on her work, Rosalind Franklin never turned away from her love of science - even when it is believed to be the reason behind her death. Rosalind Franklin died of ovarian cancer thought to have been caused by her close working proximity to radiation.
I am a huge fan of Marie Benedict and will read any and everything she writes. There is always a large amount of research and care given to each woman's story in order to fully tell their story. I will always recommend a Marie Benedict novel to anyone interested in one.
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Awards
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — Hall of Fame — January 2022)
Language
Original publication date
2022-10-04
ISBN
9781432894559