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If I Am Right, and I Know I Am by Hanne Strager tells the untold story of Inge Lehmann, the pioneering Danish scientist who discovered Earth’s solid inner core in 1936. Through meticulous research based on Lehmann’s professional correspondence, archived at the National Archive of Denmark, and private letters recently discovered in a relative’s attic, Strager paints a vivid portrait of a fiercely independent woman who transformed our understanding of the planet.

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The biography explores not only Lehmann’s scientific achievements but also her personal battles—struggling against gender bias in a male-dominated field, navigating periods of deep loneliness and depression, and finding recognition among international colleagues when overlooked at home.

Weaving together science, history, and intimate glimpses of Lehmann’s private life—including traces of a mysterious love letter—Strager offers a powerful story of resilience, brilliance, and passion.

Reviews

A remarkable yet little-known figure, Inge Lehmann made pivotal contributions to geology by decoding seismic data that settled many open questions, including the structure of Earth’s core, in the 1930s. This brilliant and extremely well-researched biography of a pioneering scientist chronicles her triumphs and tribulations, ultimately revealing the sheer joy of scientific discovery while documenting how science is powered by passion and perseverance. Beautifully written, it is a fascinating and must-read account for anyone interested in the history of scientific ideas and what the life of the mind entailed in the twentieth century.

―Priyamvada Natarajan, Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics, Yale University–

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HANNE STRAGER

About the author

Hanne Strager is a Danish biologist, whale researcher, and acclaimed science writer. She is the author of several books, including If I Am Right, and I Know I Am (2025) and The Killer Whale Journals: Our Love and Fear of Orcas (2023), which received the National Outdoor Book Award and an honorable mention in the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award (SONWA). In addition, she is the author of A Modest Genius: The Story of Darwin’s Life and How His Ideas Changed Everything. 

She currently serves as the Director of Exhibitions at The Whale, a groundbreaking new museum in Norway dedicated to the relationship between humans and whales. Previously, she was the Director of Exhibitions at the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

Hanne holds a degree in biology from Aarhus University, Denmark, and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Her work bridges science, storytelling, and conservation to make complex ideas accessible and inspire readers to deepen their understanding of the natural world.

PROJECTS AND RESEARCH

The Whale

Hanne Strager is the director of exhibitions at The Whale, a new museum under development in the small town of Andenes, located 300 km north of the Arctic Circle in Norway. Designed by Danish architect Dorte Mandrup, the spectacular building is scheduled to open in 2027.
Just off Andenes, the continental shelf plunges steeply into the depths, and a deep-sea canyon reaches almost to the coast. This unique topography creates an exceptionally rich marine environment, home to an extraordinary diversity of sea life. Many whale species can be observed in these waters, making Andenes one of the best places in the world to encounter whales in their natural habitat.

@hannestrager

CONTACT

For rights, literary agent requests, photo permissions, and inquiries:

 

Elise Capron

Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

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