A Dominant Character
| Company type | Publishing company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Books |
A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and Restless Politics of J. B. S. Haldane is a detailed biography focusing on J. B. S. Haldane, the British-Indian geneticist, communist thinker, and author. This work was penned by Samanth Subramanian and published in 2019 by Simon and Schuster.
Publication
This 384-page biography, chronicling the life of J. B. S. Haldane—a British-Indian geneticist, scientist, innovator, writer, and communist intellectual—was issued on 10 December 2019 through Simon & Schuster UK.
Summary
The book delves into the multifaceted life of J.B.S. Haldane, a British-born scientist with deep connections to India, who participated actively in both World Wars and engaged in radical political movements. It highlights his scientific achievements, philosophical outlook, visionary ideas about society, and his eventual migration within India from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar.
Reception
Jacob Koshy of The Hindu praised the biography as an "exquisite literary expedition," emphasizing its thorough documentation of Haldane’s formative years and family background alongside a rich contextual narrative.
In Outlook magazine, Shobhit Mahajan described it as a "comprehensive account," commending the extensive incorporation of Haldane’s personal diaries and correspondence, clear prose style, and engaging storytelling. However, he noted that while scientific concepts are made accessible, certain technical details were omitted.
Vineetha Mokkil from The Hindu Businessline regarded the book as a "significant addition to contemporary intellectual history," lauding it as an insightful biography that vividly animates Haldane’s persona.
T. N. Avinash writing for The Wire appreciated the depiction of Haldane’s life journey and political ideologies but pointed out the lack of scientific critiques such as Ernst Mayr’s responses to Haldane’s theories. Meanwhile, R. Prasannan in The Week Magazine called it an "honest biography" but highlighted its limited exploration of Haldane’s later period in Bhubaneswar and the absence of an index.
On 11 January 2020, Firstpost included the book among its Books of the Week selections.
Additionally, it was recognized as one of The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2020.