The Sun Chemist

I loved this book which details the personal ascent of Chaim Weizmann organic chemist, Zionist and long-time president of Israel who directed the Weizmann institute in Rehovot. The story is a thriller, but that's not the satisfying part. I enjoyed the descriptions of Chaimchik's presidential mansion, the layout of the institute, the threads of lost research conclusions. Lionel Davidson is an excellent prose writer with clear, resounding descriptions animating the feeling of London, Israel and the early 20th century. I recommend this, in fact I wrote so many notes that I am buying a second copy. Also, check out Davidson's other books on Israel, Tibet, Siberia, England, Scotland, etc.

Fascinating spy story about the search for a long missing (stolen ? I can't remember) chemical formula, developed by the late Chaim Weizmann (a chemist who became the first president of Israel), which has the potential to make petroleum out of sweet potatoes -- and thereby completely change the world, shifting wealth and power from the oil rich Arabia to impoverished Africa. Yes, it is "dated" in the sense that the plot is clearly influenced by the 1973 oil boycott. But if you like reading other "dated" mysteries, i.e., those whose plots no longer reflect present worries -- Graham Greene's Ministry of Fear (haunted by the Nazi menace), John Buchan's 39 Steps (German infiltration of England in WWI), the whole medley of cold war thrillers of Eric Ambler and indeed some of the early John le Carré-- that should not put you off of this well-written, well-plotted romp.