J D Bernal: a life in science and politics

Edited by Brenda Swan and Francis Aprahamian, Verso, 324 pages, hardback, £25.00

John Desmond Bernal (1901-1971) led a remarkable life. An eminent scientist, he was also a Marxist thinker and a tireless campaigner for world peace. This book contains 13 essays; most of their authors were acquainted with him, and much of what they write is based on personal recollections. Among other contributions is Chris Freeman's examination of his first important book - The social function of science published in 1939. In addition Lord Mountbatten (who was Chief of Combined Operations during the second world war) describes how, in 1942, he recruited Bernal as his scientific adviser for the Normandy landings and Ivor Montague tells of his post-war participation in the World Peace Council. As Eric Hobsbawm says in his preface, "most of those who knew him thought he was a genius".

The book ends with a useful calendar of his life's events. It is a welcome tribute to an outstanding person.