Born in Yorkshire in 1903, of the heroic generation in twentieth-century British Art which included Henry Moore (with whom she studied in Leeds) and Ben Nicholson (whom she married), she explored in her sculpture the forms of life – especially human life – as well as those of mathematics.

Professor Hammacher, who knew Barbara Hepworth for many years, has added new material to his acclaimed study to bring the story up to the time of her death, and has included several new illustrations.