This biography of Dr. Denis Parsons Burkitt after whom the childhood cancer Burkitt's lymphoma
was named and who was a pioneer of the dietary fiber movement paints a personal but holistic
portrait of both the man and his life's work. Featuring excerpts from Dr. Burkitt's personal
diaries spanning seven decades from his boyhood to just before his passing and extensive
family archives this book invites readers to follow Burkitt's journey through life and
experience his tribulations and successes. Prof. John Cummings was a colleague of Dr. Burkitt
and weaves the tale of his life through the lens of family faith and science.The journey
takes Burkitt from his childhood in Ireland a country undergoing major social upheaval
through his medical studies in Dublin to army service in Africa in the midst of WWII and the
independence movements that swept the continent in the following years. During his two decades
spent in Uganda working for the Colonial Medical Service Burkitt made his first major
contribution to cancer research - the characterization of Burkitt's lymphoma and its possible
viral cause. Following his return to England in 1966 he turned his attention to the cause of
'Western Diseases' especially the role of dietary fibre in the prevention of disease and
promotion of health. This earned him even wider international recognition and helped to inspire
what is a vital field of research today. The book examines Burkitt's personal views of the
world around him including his experiences as a committed evangelical Christian who had been
raised an Irish Protestant and the challenges both familial and cultural that this elicited
from and towards him and his scientific work.The lymphoma and later the fibre story propelled
Denis into an orbit of worldwide travel fame and many honours. An engaging speaker but man of
great humility always giving the credit for much of what he did to others he left a legacy of
evidence and ideas for the causes of cancer and prevention of disease from which we all now
benefit.
