Highly recommend Rosalind Franklin - the Dark Lady of DNA by Brenda Maddox. Excellent biography about how Crick & Watson 'stole' her pioneering work on DNA, but also an interesting portrayal of women and the jewish community in the first half of the 20th century. And extremely well written for those who like words, Emma.

Currently reading Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey - just published in paperback and available from all good independent booksellers! It's about the rise and fall of the Fitzwilliam family whose fortune came from the mines surrounding Wentworth House in South Yorkshire. It also describes the appalling conditions in Britain's mines at the beginning of the 20th century, and the battle between capital and labour.

Oh, must mention that Catherine Bailey will be talking about said book on Tuesday 25 March in Richmond Cricket Club at 7:30pm. And that's Richmond in North Yorkshire, not the southern upstart!

Ooh, I'd like to read the Rosalind Franklin book. I've got a bit of a thing about women scientists who never got enough recognition (or maybe Franklin didn't deserve it, hence your use of quote marks). Craig Venter's bio makes Watson sound like an egotistical prima donna.

Rosalind Franklin definitely didn't get the recognition she deserved - her male 'boss' got the Nobel prize for DNA along with Crick & Watson. They didn't steal her work as such, but certainly failed to acknowledge the impact it had on their own thinking and direction. She was a complex character, but in those days capable women had a tough time making their mark, and men often described them as 'difficult'. Do search out a copy.

I've just started re-reading 'The Prince' for a piece I've been asked to do for Norman Geras' blog. I first read it when I was fifteen and it's still wonderful. each time I dip into it, I find out something new. Recently I've come to think it's a very funny book, a satire really.

And speaking of grace under adversity (Macchiavelli was in exile when he wrote 'The Prince', having suffered an extensive period of imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Medici), if there's anyone out there who hasn't yet read Primo Levis' Holocaust memoir, 'If This Is A Man', sit down and read it NOW!

I very much like The Prince too, Sarah. Must read it again. But then again I've got a whole stack of books by big thinkers that I haven't even read once yet.

My favorite so far this year has been Graham Robb's the Discovery Of France - full of excellent historical anecdotes.

I keep looking out for good books on collecting antiques (incl. book collecting), preferably with an anecdotal bent, but can't find any modern examples.

Re: Antiques.
Although I am completely addicted to Antiques Roadshow, my absolute favourite are the follow-up programmes, where they revisit a selection of interviewees and their objects, and you get part family biography (and how the object featured with in it), part history of this group of antiques, and possibly ending with the thrill of the auction.

Oh, you must must must read Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez. It is huge. This will not matter. You will want there to be even more of it. It is the most wonderful book about Arctic science, history, mythology, ecology, culture and everything in between. The author writes like the best novelist you've ever read. And it even has a 'snow' theme!

Something quite different and which I am sure has polarised opinion in historical circles, is Marie Antoinette: The Journey. I cried when she went to the guilottine. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

And more on forgotten women of history: Lucia in the Age of Napoleon is the fascinating story of how one Italian noblewoman's life was radically changed, as Italy fell to Napoleon. It's the domestic detail and insight into women's lives at the time that makes it so readable.

Science: a book i found thoroughly enjoyable was Electric Universe by David Bodanis. After reading it, I even understood why my hair-dryer gave me an electric shock.