R. A. Fisher: an appreciation.

Fisher’s name has appeared repeatedly in Perspectives, two of which have been devoted primarily to him (Crow 1988, 1990). Fisher’s collected papers are a gold mine, for Fisher often put down his most profound and original ideas in ‘‘throw-away’’ articles, which were published in a five-volume set edited by Henry Bennett (Fisher 1971– 1974). Fisher’s great book (1930) has been reissued in a variorum edition (Fisher 1999). This is particularly useful because, in addition to an introduction by Bennett, it contains additions and amendments. Many of these provide much-needed clarification of some difficult points as Fisher’s elegant obscurity was a source of both wonder and bewilderment to his readers. Finally, Fisher’s daughter, Joan Box, has written a biography of her father (Box 1978). It is a scholarly account by a loving daughter, who nevertheless did not smooth over his rough spots.