Her Hidden Genius
In 1947, scientist Rosalind Franklin thinks she’s finally found her place at a laboratory in Paris where she learns the fine details of X-ray crystallography. Unlike in her native London, Franklin isn’t the only female scientist in Paris, and her career trajectory isn’t hampered by sexism. But after a crushing heartbreak, she takes a new position at King’s College in London, where she finds herself caught up in the race to identify the structure of DNA. When she does discover the structure, however, a male colleague, unable to reconcile having to treat a woman as an intellectual equal, betrays her, giving two scientists at rival Cambridge access to Franklin’s work. The two scientists, James Watson and Francis Crick, along with the betrayer, Maurice Wilkins, will for decades enjoy the prestige of discovering DNA’s double-helix structure while Franklin fights to receive recognition for her discovery.
Once again, Benedict has shed light on an important female historical figure who until recently hasn’t been given due credit for her contributions. Impeccably researched, Her Hidden Genius takes readers along on Franklin’s journey to create a space for women in science. While Benedict never shies away from illuminating the sexism aimed at Franklin, she never devolves into man-bashing either. Indeed, Franklin had many close relationships with male colleagues who supported and assisted her along the way. While the scientific descriptions sometimes get a bit dry, overall, this novel is an intriguing examination of a woman fighting to claim her rightful space.
