Born for the World: A Biography of Hodgkin

Author: (British) Ferry/G. / Wang Yanhong / Du Lei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: "In this biography of Britain's renowned and humble female scientist and peace advocate, Ferry showcases her outstanding talent as a scientific author." —Nature magazine "Georgina Ferry tells the life of Dorothy Hodgkin with clarity and precision, striking a delicate balance between her personal life and scientific achievements. She particularly excels in depicting Hodgkin's relationships and friendships, which include not only those who helped her through difficult times but also those who laid the foundation for many of her accomplishments. This biography is well-written and enjoyable to read, serving as an excellent introduction to Dorothy Hodgkin for a broad audience and is sure to be a great success." —Times Literary Supplement
Dorothy Hodgkin was an outstanding chemist. Born in Cairo in 1910, she graduated from Somerville College, Oxford, in 1932 and then pursued graduate studies at Cambridge University. In 1934, she returned to Oxford to teach and conduct research. In 1947, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Using X-ray crystallography, she determined the structure of penicillin in 1949 and that of vitamin B12 in 1957, earning her the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964, making her the only female scientist from the UK to date to receive this honor. In 1965, she was awarded the Order of Merit. Her research contributed to the large-scale production of penicillin and later the discovery of DNA structure. She was not only an active advocate for peace but also helped scientific research in third-world countries such as China, Ghana, and India.
Dorothy Hodgkin had a deep affection for China as early as the 1930s. In 1959, she led a British scientific delegation to Beijing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Until the year before her death in 1993, she visited China eight times. She was the first to announce internationally that Chinese scientists had deciphered the structure of insulin.
This book is a biography of Dorothy Hodgkin. Much like Hodgkin's gentle nature and steadfast beliefs, this understated yet profound biography by Ferry not only clearly explains Hodgkin's scientific work but also, with abundant and detailed information, presents the warmth of this remarkable woman's personality and the kindness in her heart. The book also vividly depicts the touching bond of mutual understanding between Hodgkin and Chinese scientists.