Rob Walters

eBook, ePUB

Political Chemistry: Margaret Thatcher and Dorothy Hodgkin (eBook, ePUB)

Beschreibung

Most people do not know what a crystallographer does, and if asked to name one crystallographer most of us would need to call a friend... and the friend would probably need to visit Wikipedia. Everyone knows what a UK Prime Minister does, or what he or she should do. If asked to name one they could, and could certainly name the first woman Prime Minister of the UK, though some would not want to do so. Yet they probably could not name the only UK woman to gain a Nobel Prize in science, even though these two women should be equally famous. Most people know that the UK's first woman Prime Minister began her adult life at Oxford University studying chemistry. However, chemistry is a big subject, surely she had to specialise - and yes, so she did: in crystallography. Her tutor was to become a big name in that field: she used X-rays to investigate the structure of molecules and came up with solutions for cholesterol, penicillin, vitamin B12 and insulin. Dorothy Hodgkin truly deserved her Nobel prize. Now, Dorothy was not at all like Margaret Thatcher: she had a communist lover, eulogised the Soviet Union and Communist China and was a pacifist. Margaret, even as a student, was an avowed Conservative and chauvinist. So what would these two women talk about? That is exactly the question author Rob Walters endeavours to answer in his book "Margaret Thatcher and Dorothy Hodgkin: Political Chemistry." Here are some early reviews: It's good, very good! Peter Ashby FRSA, Consultant. I read the first few chapters of Margaret and Dorothy in Conversation last night and enjoyed it - on a number of levels: the well-told and absorbing story of a developing relationship; the lesser-known biographical details (well, lesser known to me anyway); the content of the discussions -fundamental opposing political ideas discussed intelligently and without rancour. D'Arcy Vallance, Author and ELT Consultant Really enjoyed the book. The subject matter is fascinating, whetted my appetite to read more ... haven't read anything on Margaret (the blood might boil!) and limited stuff on Dorothy. Maureen Minton, Oxford City Guide. The conversations take place during Margaret's fourth year at Oxford during which she carried out research work in Dorothy's crystallography lab. They range widely over topics from socialism to sexual freedom and council housing to nationalisation. Of course, no one knows exactly what they did discuss, but the conversations are soundly based in the factual world of post war Britain and do reflect the characters of these two very interesting women. There are in total fifteen short conversations which explore many topics. At the same time, they also shine a light on the interaction between the two women themselves. Here are some of the conversation titles: Mothers Grammar School Girls Women in Politics Crystal Clear Socialism Abroad Marriage and Children Social Housing Battle of the Sexes Science and War Free Milk and Nationalisation Sexual Morality Political Activism The British Empire Free Will In the opening chapter, the author lists his qualifications for the daunting task of creating this fascinating dialogue. Among them is the change in his own political allegiance and the strength of that allegiance during his life. It is this which gives him the confidence to argue from both a left and right wing perspective through the words of his chosen subjects - Margaret and Dorothy. This also encourages an even hand, and hopefully leaves the reader's feathers reasonably unruffled, regardless of the colour of those feathers. In the concluding chapter he describes what happens next. Margaret and Dorothy's relationship did not end when the budding politician left the grassy enclaves of Somerville College, Oxford. There was more, much more. Though set in an era immediately...

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Autor

I always wanted to write, even as a kid, and now I do. I can transfer the desire to other projects and often do - but if there is nothing much on then I need to write.

In my past life in the technical world I was often puzzled by colleagues who hated writing in the way that some people hate maths.They were forced to write whereas the pen had to be wrested from my hand.

When my children were young I wrote for them. I clearly recall reading the second chapter of a book I started on the lives of a family of city foxes. I had almost finished reading a section in which most of the cubs were gassed in their earth when I looked up and was amazed to see tears streaming down the faces of my two daughters. The power of the written word?

My first full book was published in 1991, It followed many technical papers and articles and was followed by two newsletters which I edited, and mostly wrote, for the next ten years. Four more technical books appeared after which I abandoned the world of technology and began doing my own thing.

I travelled, became an Oxford city guide, and wrote a number of books and articles, some fiction, some non-fiction, some published, some not. See my bookshop on the web for all of my books and a shocking experience in an online pub.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Rob Walters
• Erscheinungstermin: 2. Juni 2014
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781310757136
• Artikelnr.: 72364595