A fierce radiance, by Lauren Belfer

More war, this time World War II, and the race to win the war against the infections which took far more lives than battle. Revolving around the development of penicillin, fact and fiction are well woven. Although at first it seemed like it would degenerate into a rather stock love story featuring a plucky divorced young mother making her way, successfully, as a photojournalist and the gallant doctor researching antibiotics that may turn the tide of war in favor of the allies, in the end it was more thoughtful and less predictable. Enjoyable and informative, but not great. 532 pp.