Includes bibliographical references (pages 353-367) and index.

In 1962, Maurice Wilkins, Francis Crick, and James Watson received the Nobel Prize, but it was Rosalind Franklin's data and photographs of DNA that led to their discovery. Brenda Maddox tells a powerful story of a remarkably single-minded, forthright, and tempestuous young woman who, at the age of fifteen, decided she was going to be a scientist, but who was airbrushed out of the greatest scientific discovery of the twentieth century. Once in Royal David's City -- 'Alarmingly clever' -- Once a Paulina -- Never surrender -- Holes in coal -- Woman of the Left Bank -- Seine v. Strand -- What is life? -- Joining the circus -- Such a funny lab -- Undeclared race -- Eureka and goodbye -- Escaping notice -- Acid next door -- O my America -- New friends, new enemies -- Postponed departure -- Private health, public health -- Clarity and perfection -- Epilogue; life after death.