Serious Minds: The Extraordinary Haldanes of Cloan

The Times praised Richard Burdon Haldane as "one of the most powerful intellects British statesmanship had ever seen," and his brother John invented the first gas masks used in World War One. Their sister Elizabeth was among the first women to become a senior public servant, and their mother Mary was a friend and advisor to top politicians and churchmen. Their grandchildren swapped their traditional roots for radical socialism, but continued the brilliant family legacy. Naomi Mitchison was a doyenne of Scottish literature, and her brother J.B.S. Haldane was called "the cleverest man I ever knew." Serious Minds details scandal, tragedy, and achievement within a dynasty that shaped modern Britain.

Format: Hardback
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2022
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

An elegant and revealing portrayal of a remarkable family that played a pivotal role in shaping the politics, arts, and sciences of modern Britain. The Times praised Richard Burdon Haldane as "one of the most powerful intellects British statesmanship had ever seen." His brother John, a renowned physiologist, invented the first gas masks used in World War One. Their sister Elizabeth achieved groundbreaking status as a senior public servant, becoming one of the first women to hold such a position. Their mother, Mary, was a friend and advisor to prominent politicians and churchmen, nurturing the exceptional minds within her family.

Mary's grandchildren, while embracing radical socialism, continued to uphold the brilliant family legacy. Naomi Mitchison, a prominent figure in Scottish literature, received prestigious recognition, with one Nobel laureate describing her brother, the geneticist J.B.S. Haldane, as "the cleverest man I ever knew." Like the Darwins and Keyneses, this clan of thinkers lived in rapidly changing times, exerting a profound influence on the world around them.

Serious Minds, through extensive family interviews and access to previously unseen private papers, delves into the scandal, tragedy, and remarkable achievements within this dynasty that shaped modern Britain. It explores the impact of their contributions on various aspects of society, including the welfare state, education system, military, energy, the human body, and our understanding of the origins of life itself. This captivating book offers a deep insight into the lives and legacies of a family that left an indelible mark on the history and development of Britain.

Weight: 846g
Dimension: 171 x 242 x 45 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787387928