Her Hidden Genious

Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict is an excellent historical fiction story that focusses on the fascinating life of Dr. Rosalind Franklin.

Synopsis: Rosalind Franklin has always been an outsider―brilliant, but different. Whether working at the laboratory she adored in Paris or toiling at a university in London, she feels closest to the science, those unchanging laws of physics and chemistry that guide her experiments. When she is assigned to work on DNA, she believes she can unearth its secrets.

Rosalind 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 unfolds next, Rosalind could have never predicted.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I love Benedict’s books, because I know I am going to learn something new and very important in women’s history and boy did I learn a lot in this one! Now, Benedict isn’t out to just educate you, she also pulls you in, adds depth to characters, balances the true historical facts with dramatic fiction, and allows readers to decide for themselves where they end up in their beliefs.

I also loved reading about how men and women in scientific world were seen as equals and worked together towards the advancement of science, whereas England was still stuck in the Dark Ages.

What was Rosalind’s character like?

She wasn’t a two-dimensional character! Rosalind went through so much in her own life as she followed her passion for the advancement of science even when it went against what her parents wanted for her. For me, I thoroughly enjoyed the personal relationships, the highpoints of her discoveries, and the mini-suspenseful moments of research being stolen or protected. I was her personal cheerleader as overcame so many challenges.

How is the pace?

This one is a slow burn but has so much to offer. There is a lot of science and background on crystallography and DNA throughout the story, but it has a lot of relevance. How else are we to know exactly what Dr. Rosalind Franklin is doing? I think most people will enjoy the book... buuuutttt without the underlying, interest in DNA and science, it might fall a bit flat given that's the sole focus and precipice of the book. I’m a science junkie so I loved it.

Do you recommend this book?

If you are a fan of women in history and science, then you will find yourself lost in Rosalind’s story and making yourself her personal cheerleader and wanting to avenge her as men try to push her down.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.