The Holland Sisters by Eugene Rocchow and Eduard Krahé,
Springer-Verlag, £22, ISBN 3540416048
HERE’S a worthy book, written from worthy motives. But are worthy motives
enough? The authors of The Holland Sisters are both professors, anxious
to give credit where it is due. The sisters were all married to important
scientists, William Perkin, the discoverer of aniline dyes, Frederic Kipping,
pioneer of silicon research and development, and Arthur Lapworth, whose work
opened up the science of organic electronics.
Though awards and honours were heaped on the husbands, the two professors
were outraged that the women, who “kept their three husbands…
