Nikolai Vavilov. The Scientist Who Wanted to Feed the Entire World and Died of Hunger

One of the greatest scientists of the 20th century, Nikolai Vavilov dreamed of ending hunger in the world, but in 1943 he himself died of starvation in a Saratov prison. Not shying away from scientific challenges or complicated expeditions to the most remote corners of the Earth, Nikolai Vavilov could do nothing against the pressure of the cynical demagogue and opportunist Trofim Lysenko. The purge of geneticists set domestic science back an entire generation and caused enormous damage to the country. In recounting the story of how the greatest humanitarian mission led Nikolai Vavilov to a death by starvation, Peter Pringle relied on recently uncovered archival documents, personal and official correspondence, vivid expedition reports, previously unpublished family letters and diaries, as well as the memories of eyewitnesses. This deeply human and vivid narrative paints a very lively portrait of a brilliant scientist, a lover of life, and a tireless worker, who remained committed to his great dream until his last days.