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Marie Curie: A Life
"A touching three-dimensional portrait of the Polish-born scientist and two-time Nobel Prize winner" ( Kirkus ) Madame Curie, the discoverer of radium and radioactivity
One hundred years ago, Marie Curie discovered radioactivity, for which she won the Nobel Prize in physics. In 1911 she won an unprecedented second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for isolating new radioactive elements. Despite these achievements, or perhaps because of her fame, she has remained a saintly, unapproachable genius. From family documents and a private journal only recently made available, Susan Quinn at last tells the full human story. From the stubborn sixteen-year-old studying science at night while working as a governess, to her romance and scientific partnership with Pierre Curie-an extraordinary marriage of equals-we feel her defeats as well as her successes: her rejection by the French Academy, her unbearable grief at Pierre's untimely and gruesome death, and her retreat into a love affair with a married fellow scientist, causing a scandal which almost cost her the second Nobel Prize. In Susan Quinn's fully dimensional portrait, we come at last to know this complicated, passionate, brilliant woman.
One hundred years ago, Marie Curie discovered radioactivity, for which she won the Nobel Prize in physics. In 1911 she won an unprecedented second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for isolating new radioactive elements. Despite these achievements, or perhaps because of her fame, she has remained a saintly, unapproachable genius. From family documents and a private journal only recently made available, Susan Quinn at last tells the full human story. From the stubborn sixteen-year-old studying science at night while working as a governess, to her romance and scientific partnership with Pierre Curie-an extraordinary marriage of equals-we feel her defeats as well as her successes: her rejection by the French Academy, her unbearable grief at Pierre's untimely and gruesome death, and her retreat into a love affair with a married fellow scientist, causing a scandal which almost cost her the second Nobel Prize. In Susan Quinn's fully dimensional portrait, we come at last to know this complicated, passionate, brilliant woman.
528 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
102 people are currently reading
3203 people want to read
About the author
Susan Quinn
34 books37 followersSusan Quinn grew up in Chillicothe, Ohio, and graduated from Oberlin College. She began her writing career as a newspaper reporter on a suburban daily outside of Cleveland, following two years as an apprentice actor at the Cleveland Playhouse. In 1967, she published her first book under the name Susan Jacobs: a nonfiction account of the making of a Broadway play called On Stage (Alfred A. Knopf). In 1972, after moving to Boston, she became a regular contributor to an alternative Cambridge weekly, The Real Paper, then a contributor and staff writer on Boston Magazine. In 1979, she won the Penney-Missouri magazine award for an investigative article for Boston Magazine on dangerous cargo transported through the city, and the Golden Hammer Award from the National Association of Home Builders for an investigative article on home inspections. She has written articles for many publications, including the New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly and Ms. Magazine.
In 1987, she published her first biography, A Mind of Her Own; The Life of Karen Horney (Simon and Schuster, Addison-Wesley and Perseus) for which she received the Boston Globe's Laurence L. Winship Award.
For her next book, Marie Curie: A Life, she was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Rockefeller Foundation writing residency at Bellagio in Italy. A reviewer in Science magazine predicted that her book "is certain to be this generation's biography of Marie Curie.” Marie Curie was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award and was on the short list for the Fawcett Book Prize in England. It has been translated into eight languages, and was awarded the Elle Grand prix des lectrices in 1997.
In 2001, Quinn published Human Trials: Scientists, Investors and Patients in the Quest for a Cure. It was described as a “real-life thriller” by the New York Daily News. Human Trials was chosen by Library Journal as one of the best sci-tech books of 2001.
Susan Quinn has lectured all over the United States, and has spoken in France and Poland about her biography of Marie Curie. In 2000, the University of Wisconsin at Stout awarded her a Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Quinn has served as the Chair of PEN New England, a branch of the writers’ organization PEN International. She is an accomplished flutist, and continues to participate in chamber groups on a regular basis. Susan is married to a psychoanalyst, Daniel Jacobs and has two children and four grandchildren. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts just outside of Boston.
In 1987, she published her first biography, A Mind of Her Own; The Life of Karen Horney (Simon and Schuster, Addison-Wesley and Perseus) for which she received the Boston Globe's Laurence L. Winship Award.
For her next book, Marie Curie: A Life, she was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Rockefeller Foundation writing residency at Bellagio in Italy. A reviewer in Science magazine predicted that her book "is certain to be this generation's biography of Marie Curie.” Marie Curie was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award and was on the short list for the Fawcett Book Prize in England. It has been translated into eight languages, and was awarded the Elle Grand prix des lectrices in 1997.
In 2001, Quinn published Human Trials: Scientists, Investors and Patients in the Quest for a Cure. It was described as a “real-life thriller” by the New York Daily News. Human Trials was chosen by Library Journal as one of the best sci-tech books of 2001.
Susan Quinn has lectured all over the United States, and has spoken in France and Poland about her biography of Marie Curie. In 2000, the University of Wisconsin at Stout awarded her a Doctorate of Humane Letters.
Quinn has served as the Chair of PEN New England, a branch of the writers’ organization PEN International. She is an accomplished flutist, and continues to participate in chamber groups on a regular basis. Susan is married to a psychoanalyst, Daniel Jacobs and has two children and four grandchildren. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts just outside of Boston.
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July 9, 2022
Very approachable biography of Marie Curie - one of the true pioneers of science. Amazing how she has kind of been forgotten; so often women who make breakthrough discoveries in science are marginalized. She won the Nobel Prize in Physics (1903) and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1911). That is friggin amazing! A great role model for future scientists!
November 23, 2021
This is what I call a tour de force, such an incredible biography. Marie Curie is here shown not only through the lens of her own life, but that of her parents and some of those who made part of it. Born in Warsaw in an occupied Poland by the Russian Empire, where Polish was prohibited to be taught or even spoken in official situations, Maria Skłodowska came into being in an intellectual and patriotic family, both her parents were teachers and her father always dreamt of becoming a scientist one day. Life was very harsh and the family endured hard times but in the end her siblings Józef and Bronia became doctors and Helena became an educator. Bronia, having achieved her medicine diploma in Paris, invited Maria to join her and after some doubts and troubles she ended up moving to Paris to attend university studies, prohibited to her in her occupied country.
It was in Paris that Maria bloomed, having endured difficulties to achieve her goals, but at last succeeding. It was a bit before deciding to return to Poland that she met Pierre Curie and it was a communion of souls and hearts. From this marriage, Irène was born in 1897 and Ève in 1904. It was from this union that they were awarded in 1903 the Nobel Prize in Physics, together with Henri Becquerel. What should and could have been a time of blooming ended abruptly in 1906, when Pierre Curie was killed in a tragic traffic accident. The next years were full of sadness and depression over her beloved Pierre's death and it took time till she could overcome it.
In a society that considered itself advanced, patriarchalism placed women indoors. Thus, Marie Curie never had an easy life as a scientist. And she achieve her goals, sometimes boosted by Pierre Curie who always stood by her, thus being the first woman to be awarded a Doctorate by the Sorbonne, as well the first to become a professor at that University. Nevertheless, her life was turned into a nightmare in around 1911 when part of the press (right-wing, monarchic, anti-semitic, and anti- Dreyfusian) found out about her affair with physicist Paul Langevin, a married man. Not even the fact that she was awarded her second Nobel Prize in 1911, this time in Chemistry for the discovery of radium and polonium at the beginning of the century, made things easier.
Soon the world would be engulfed in World War I. What the patriarchal societies all over the world didn't expect was that fortune would play a trick on them, and catch them in their own traps. Indeed, men made war and most of the cities and villages were left behind with a majority of the female population who had to take on the jobs men used to do. Marie Curie and her daughter Irène took part in it as well after Marie Curie developed easier and mobile X-ray units to be taken to the front lines, sometimes putting her life at risk. When the war was over, all the rage against her seemed to have never existed before. And women took a new turn in society, for once you open such a door, you can hardly close it back again.
Marie Curie's last years were mostly lived trying to accomplish the best with her students and collaborators in the Radium Institute, but she took part in many other initiatives. A fact worth telling is that one feels heart-warmed to know that a bit before her death in 1934, Marie Curie could see her daughter Irène (Joliot-Curie) and son-in-law Frédéric (Joliot-Curie) discover artificial radioactivity, which granted the couple the Nobel prize in Chemistry in 1935.
She was regarded as a hard person, yet those who knew her well used to say that she was not at all like that. In this matter, it is necessary to say that many of her male scientist colleagues considered her as Pierre Curie's assistant only, his shadow. And along with her life she showed that it was not the case. Pierre himself used to combat such a vision, even exposing her name as one of the main reasons for their achievement of the Physics Nobel Prize in 1903. He always considered her as an equal.
Marie Curie broke as many barriers as possible, social, educational, scientific, political, and for that alone she shall be always regarded as the great person she was. Yet, she had to fight fiercely to achieve each of her goals. A man in her situation wouldn't have to fight the least she had to face. And it was not for her sake alone that she bravely fought, but for science sake as much. It is on account of these situations that I say that humans are the worst enemies of... humans. Indeed, because of a human construction called "prejudice", "preconceived ideas", humans judge others on account of their gender, their skin color, their countries of origin, their ethnic belonging, their religions, their sexual orientation, their education, et Cetera. In this, we have evolved a lot, but there is such a long long way to go until we can see each other as equally capable.
Marie Curie never accepted to be taken for less than she was worthy. And it was her work with or without Pierre that transformed quite a good bunch of the world we live in today. And if she had been treated in a much fairer way on account of her gender, only God knows what else she could have accomplished for the benefit of humanity.
It was in Paris that Maria bloomed, having endured difficulties to achieve her goals, but at last succeeding. It was a bit before deciding to return to Poland that she met Pierre Curie and it was a communion of souls and hearts. From this marriage, Irène was born in 1897 and Ève in 1904. It was from this union that they were awarded in 1903 the Nobel Prize in Physics, together with Henri Becquerel. What should and could have been a time of blooming ended abruptly in 1906, when Pierre Curie was killed in a tragic traffic accident. The next years were full of sadness and depression over her beloved Pierre's death and it took time till she could overcome it.
In a society that considered itself advanced, patriarchalism placed women indoors. Thus, Marie Curie never had an easy life as a scientist. And she achieve her goals, sometimes boosted by Pierre Curie who always stood by her, thus being the first woman to be awarded a Doctorate by the Sorbonne, as well the first to become a professor at that University. Nevertheless, her life was turned into a nightmare in around 1911 when part of the press (right-wing, monarchic, anti-semitic, and anti- Dreyfusian) found out about her affair with physicist Paul Langevin, a married man. Not even the fact that she was awarded her second Nobel Prize in 1911, this time in Chemistry for the discovery of radium and polonium at the beginning of the century, made things easier.
Soon the world would be engulfed in World War I. What the patriarchal societies all over the world didn't expect was that fortune would play a trick on them, and catch them in their own traps. Indeed, men made war and most of the cities and villages were left behind with a majority of the female population who had to take on the jobs men used to do. Marie Curie and her daughter Irène took part in it as well after Marie Curie developed easier and mobile X-ray units to be taken to the front lines, sometimes putting her life at risk. When the war was over, all the rage against her seemed to have never existed before. And women took a new turn in society, for once you open such a door, you can hardly close it back again.
Marie Curie's last years were mostly lived trying to accomplish the best with her students and collaborators in the Radium Institute, but she took part in many other initiatives. A fact worth telling is that one feels heart-warmed to know that a bit before her death in 1934, Marie Curie could see her daughter Irène (Joliot-Curie) and son-in-law Frédéric (Joliot-Curie) discover artificial radioactivity, which granted the couple the Nobel prize in Chemistry in 1935.
She was regarded as a hard person, yet those who knew her well used to say that she was not at all like that. In this matter, it is necessary to say that many of her male scientist colleagues considered her as Pierre Curie's assistant only, his shadow. And along with her life she showed that it was not the case. Pierre himself used to combat such a vision, even exposing her name as one of the main reasons for their achievement of the Physics Nobel Prize in 1903. He always considered her as an equal.
Marie Curie broke as many barriers as possible, social, educational, scientific, political, and for that alone she shall be always regarded as the great person she was. Yet, she had to fight fiercely to achieve each of her goals. A man in her situation wouldn't have to fight the least she had to face. And it was not for her sake alone that she bravely fought, but for science sake as much. It is on account of these situations that I say that humans are the worst enemies of... humans. Indeed, because of a human construction called "prejudice", "preconceived ideas", humans judge others on account of their gender, their skin color, their countries of origin, their ethnic belonging, their religions, their sexual orientation, their education, et Cetera. In this, we have evolved a lot, but there is such a long long way to go until we can see each other as equally capable.
Marie Curie never accepted to be taken for less than she was worthy. And it was her work with or without Pierre that transformed quite a good bunch of the world we live in today. And if she had been treated in a much fairer way on account of her gender, only God knows what else she could have accomplished for the benefit of humanity.
November 23, 2014
A thorough journey through the fascinating life of a woman who won two Nobel Prizes and gave birth to a daughter who would also win a Nobel. Marie Curie was an intellectual force, and the life she lived had challenges that she continued to overcome and almost always come through the victor.
May 24, 2013
A wonderfully written biography on an utterly fascinating subject. My knowledge of Marie Curie was limited to a paragraph or two from high school science courses. This book provides a good context of the scientific times in which Marie Curie lived (she and Rutherford had quite the scientific debate going on, and she went hiking with Einstein) and her life in France at the turn of the century. She was dogged in her scientific pursuits, was involved in a bit of a romantic scandal, and contributed to French war effort. And, to add to the dramatic tension, throughout the whole fascinating story of her life, is the creeping concern for all of her exposure to radiation.
March 8, 2018
Happy women's day to all!! Read good stuff, good bios. Enjoy the day and do what to love to do.💕
June 14, 2013
Quinn's biography strikes the right balance between Marie Curie's personal and professional lives, enabling readers to understand her as a complete historical person. Especially notable are Quinn's lucid discussions of Curie's scientific accomplishments vis-a-vis those of other chemists and physicists working in the new field of radioactivity and the remarkable scientific partnership she enjoyed with her husband, Pierre Curie.
September 21, 2020
An interesting book. I di not know much about the life of Marie Curie. Reason for which this book caught my attention. The biography is well written. I like that it is descriptive, but it is not tedious. The author adds a lot of important information about the life of this great woman. Without a doubt, her life was full of obstacles and challenges. It's incredible how she acted against everything that others believed, despite being in a time when women were not allowed to participate in many aspects of daily life. Marie is a woman that I admire for her dedication and perseverance. A book that I recommend for those who want to learn about this incredible woman.
September 18, 2023
Thorough, well written biography of a groundbreaking scientist, giving equal weight to Marie Curie's incredible scientific achievements and to the woman herself.
February 8, 2015
I knew absolutely nothing about Marie Curie, sad to say. This book was excellent, providing a thorough background on the political environment in Poland and the education of women at that time. The author did a wonderful job making Marie into a human being with strong emotions, particularly her attachment to her family, her husband, her daughters and her ill-fated romance. The science was well explained leaving me with a better grasp of the Curies' amazing discoveries. I found the book moving, hard to put down. I'm left with great respect for an amazing, determined, brilliant woman!
June 5, 2016
Very interesting read, Marie Curie truly was an increadible women. For me, it was a bit more in depth than necessary, but the thoroughness also helped the reader relate to Marie Curie through her life, so I can't complain too much there.
June 27, 2015
Marie curie the woman who opened the nuclear age ,I was happy to
become intimately aware when i was reading the story that discovery
itself, is an issue of passion,for me ;Marie was not simply a great scientist;
she was a magnificent human being, and her love of science
and her commitment to truth were reflected in her personal
character, which was beyond reproach
I wish to thank Madame Marie, and say that her life is an inspiration which I
have loved.
Marie Curie’s hypothesis that radiation was “an atomic property” transformed forever how man would view the atom.
There are some biographers who have said that this, and only this, was Marie Curie’s great discovery, but that is not true. It was only the first step, which she boldly took, in her 36-year odyssey with radioactive substances.
In discovering the nature of nuclear power, much of her work was intimately tied to medical research in particular the use of X-rays for diagnosis, and radioisotopes for cancer treatment.
one of the most radioactive substances, was discovered by Marie back in 1898.
1903, she, along with her husband, Pierre Curie, and the physicist Henri Becquerel, won the prestigious prize in physics for their joint work in radioactivity. It was only the third year that the prize had been given, and Marie was the FIRST WOMAN to receive it. Eight years later, Marie Curie
received an unprecedented second Nobel Prize, this time in
chemistry, for her work with radium.
Pierre was 35 years old and unmarried when he met
Marie. In fact, Pierre had despaired in ever finding a woman
who he could share completely his love and devotion to science
and humanity. When he was younger, he wrote in his
diary:
Woman loves life for the living of it far more than we
do: women of genius are rare
Pierre’s brother, Jacques, although several years older, was
his best friend and scientific partner for several years.
Pierre looked at the effect of temperature
changes on magnetism, and saw that some materials
change their magnetic properties under different temperature
conditions.
It is the good fortune of humanity that Marie
relented, returned to Paris, and married Pierre in July 1895.
Although it is true (and often repeated) that Marie and Pierre Curie’s work in radioactive substances took a toll on their physical well-being, they
would not want to be remembered as “victims” or “martyrs” to
the nuclear age. They were deeply committed scientists, who
loved truth and beauty, who made significant discoveries that
alleviated human suffering, and left a legacy to mankind to be
cherished forever.
one of the most radioactive substances, was discovered by Marie back in 1898.
1903, she, along with her husband, Pierre Curie, and the physicist Henri Becquerel, won the prestigious prize in physics for their joint work in radioactivity. It was only the third year that the prize had been given, and Marie was the first woman to receive it. Eight years later, Marie Curie
received an unprecedented second Nobel Prize, this time in
chemistry, for her work with radium.
The genius of Marie Curie can best be understood from the standpoint of her commitment to truth.
become intimately aware when i was reading the story that discovery
itself, is an issue of passion,for me ;Marie was not simply a great scientist;
she was a magnificent human being, and her love of science
and her commitment to truth were reflected in her personal
character, which was beyond reproach
I wish to thank Madame Marie, and say that her life is an inspiration which I
have loved.
Marie Curie’s hypothesis that radiation was “an atomic property” transformed forever how man would view the atom.
There are some biographers who have said that this, and only this, was Marie Curie’s great discovery, but that is not true. It was only the first step, which she boldly took, in her 36-year odyssey with radioactive substances.
In discovering the nature of nuclear power, much of her work was intimately tied to medical research in particular the use of X-rays for diagnosis, and radioisotopes for cancer treatment.
one of the most radioactive substances, was discovered by Marie back in 1898.
1903, she, along with her husband, Pierre Curie, and the physicist Henri Becquerel, won the prestigious prize in physics for their joint work in radioactivity. It was only the third year that the prize had been given, and Marie was the FIRST WOMAN to receive it. Eight years later, Marie Curie
received an unprecedented second Nobel Prize, this time in
chemistry, for her work with radium.
Pierre was 35 years old and unmarried when he met
Marie. In fact, Pierre had despaired in ever finding a woman
who he could share completely his love and devotion to science
and humanity. When he was younger, he wrote in his
diary:
Woman loves life for the living of it far more than we
do: women of genius are rare
Pierre’s brother, Jacques, although several years older, was
his best friend and scientific partner for several years.
Pierre looked at the effect of temperature
changes on magnetism, and saw that some materials
change their magnetic properties under different temperature
conditions.
It is the good fortune of humanity that Marie
relented, returned to Paris, and married Pierre in July 1895.
Although it is true (and often repeated) that Marie and Pierre Curie’s work in radioactive substances took a toll on their physical well-being, they
would not want to be remembered as “victims” or “martyrs” to
the nuclear age. They were deeply committed scientists, who
loved truth and beauty, who made significant discoveries that
alleviated human suffering, and left a legacy to mankind to be
cherished forever.
one of the most radioactive substances, was discovered by Marie back in 1898.
1903, she, along with her husband, Pierre Curie, and the physicist Henri Becquerel, won the prestigious prize in physics for their joint work in radioactivity. It was only the third year that the prize had been given, and Marie was the first woman to receive it. Eight years later, Marie Curie
received an unprecedented second Nobel Prize, this time in
chemistry, for her work with radium.
The genius of Marie Curie can best be understood from the standpoint of her commitment to truth.
February 26, 2012
I suppose this is more a review of the subject than of the book, but I feel like I've discovered a new world. I'm well into middle age but had never read Marie Curie's biography before now. I had only heard of her as "Madame Curie" and am very, very glad that more modern references use her entire name: Maria Sklodowska-Curie. "Madame Curie" always sounded like the name of a prison matron, and how disrespectful, to omit the FULL NAME of a woman who won the Nobel Prize twice! Susan Quinn does an excellent job of bringing Maria Sklodowska-Curie to full, three-dimensional life.
Marie Curie is truly an inspiration. I wish every school-age girl could have the opportunity to learn about her and discover the scientist that lives in all of us. Every child should have the opportunity to ask him or herself, "What are you curious about? What would you like to learn more about?" Maria Sklodowska took a position as a governess and became exasperated at some of her charges, who were not willing to spend hours alone reading and studying. Why? Not only because Maria fully subscribed to the notion that education, learning and study were the greatest, if not the only, route to true success in life, but because having her students preoccupied this way gave her the opportunity to study more herself.
The story of her marriage to Pierre Curie, and its heartbreaking premature end, is just one more facet of her admirable life. How fortunate these two people were to find each other, at the dawn of some of the most amazing breakthroughs in science and technology. It's really something to read this story from the vantage point of the cynical 21st century, where we feel nearly everything that can be discovered already has been -- and learn that in the 1890s, people already knew of uranium, but only as an ingredient in the manufacture of ceramic glazes! There is so much about our world today that we take for granted.
The interconnectedness of the world is another thing this book reminds us of. While the United States was enjoying the "Gay Nineties," France and much of Europe were spearheading history. Women in France faced the same types of struggles that American women still do. European society found its own way to resolve these conflicts... for awhile. Susan Quin paints a portrait of these times so vividly, it makes the reader long for a time machine. Far from being "a simpler time," the late 19th and early 20th century were tingling with the advent of an entirely new age. Marie Curie was at the hub.
Read this book; learn about Marie Curie if you haven't yet. She will open your eyes.
Marie Curie is truly an inspiration. I wish every school-age girl could have the opportunity to learn about her and discover the scientist that lives in all of us. Every child should have the opportunity to ask him or herself, "What are you curious about? What would you like to learn more about?" Maria Sklodowska took a position as a governess and became exasperated at some of her charges, who were not willing to spend hours alone reading and studying. Why? Not only because Maria fully subscribed to the notion that education, learning and study were the greatest, if not the only, route to true success in life, but because having her students preoccupied this way gave her the opportunity to study more herself.
The story of her marriage to Pierre Curie, and its heartbreaking premature end, is just one more facet of her admirable life. How fortunate these two people were to find each other, at the dawn of some of the most amazing breakthroughs in science and technology. It's really something to read this story from the vantage point of the cynical 21st century, where we feel nearly everything that can be discovered already has been -- and learn that in the 1890s, people already knew of uranium, but only as an ingredient in the manufacture of ceramic glazes! There is so much about our world today that we take for granted.
The interconnectedness of the world is another thing this book reminds us of. While the United States was enjoying the "Gay Nineties," France and much of Europe were spearheading history. Women in France faced the same types of struggles that American women still do. European society found its own way to resolve these conflicts... for awhile. Susan Quin paints a portrait of these times so vividly, it makes the reader long for a time machine. Far from being "a simpler time," the late 19th and early 20th century were tingling with the advent of an entirely new age. Marie Curie was at the hub.
Read this book; learn about Marie Curie if you haven't yet. She will open your eyes.
December 14, 2014
Okay, so this took me a month to finish, but that's not because I didn't enjoy the book: it's because my copy is the heaviest hardback I've ever had the misfortune of encountering. Hence I couldn't bring it when I'm out and about, and since I do a lot reading while commuting ... yeah, it took a while.
But when I read it, I did enjoy it - a lot. Marie Curie is fascinating woman, with a fascinating life. Even though I knew basic facts about her before reading this book, I learned a lot of things I had no idea of. Such as her daughter winning a Nobel prize, or her husband dying in an accident (I thought he died of radiation poisoning too).
Since it was set about a hundred years ago, it was also interesting because I don't know much about the every day life during that time period. I definitely didn't know anything about Poland's history, so I learned a lot not just about her, even thought that would have been quite enough. She was very interesting.
I don't really have much to complain about. It told a clear story, from start to finish, and would explain enough of the history and context of events that may not make sense today, such as the scandal. Although, looking at how the world treated Kristen Stewart after her scandal, we haven't progressed as much as one would like.
But when I read it, I did enjoy it - a lot. Marie Curie is fascinating woman, with a fascinating life. Even though I knew basic facts about her before reading this book, I learned a lot of things I had no idea of. Such as her daughter winning a Nobel prize, or her husband dying in an accident (I thought he died of radiation poisoning too).
Since it was set about a hundred years ago, it was also interesting because I don't know much about the every day life during that time period. I definitely didn't know anything about Poland's history, so I learned a lot not just about her, even thought that would have been quite enough. She was very interesting.
I don't really have much to complain about. It told a clear story, from start to finish, and would explain enough of the history and context of events that may not make sense today, such as the scandal. Although, looking at how the world treated Kristen Stewart after her scandal, we haven't progressed as much as one would like.
August 18, 2007
One hundred years ago, Marie Curie discovered radioactivity, for which she won the Nobel Prize in physics. In 1911 she won an unprecedented second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for isolating new radioactive elements. Despite these achievements, or perhaps because of her fame, she has remained a saintly, unapproachable genius. From family documents and a private journal only recently made available, Susan Quinn at last tells the full human story. From the stubborn sixteen-year-old studying science at night while working as a governess, to her romance and scientific partnership with Pierre Curiean extraordinary marriage of equalswe feel her defeats as well as her successes: her rejection by the French Academy, her unbearable grief at Pierres untimely and gruesome death, and her retreat into a love affair with a married fellow scientist, causing a scandal which almost cost her the second Nobel Prize. In Susan Quinns fully dimensional portrait, we come at last to know this complicated, passionate, brilliant woman.
October 9, 2013
Gave up after 20 pages
Then I picked it up again. Very interesting story but badly written and slow going
Then I picked it up again. Very interesting story but badly written and slow going
October 3, 2017
Susan Quinn Biography of Madam Curie life is truly an epic, the book is comparable to any literary masterpiece. The book is truly remarkable for multiple reasons and is a benchmark of how a well-written biography should be.
The book captures the entire life of Madam Curie, from her early childhood days in Poland to her death in Paris as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century.
The book's greatest strength is the parallel histories and narration it offers, it places Curie amongst multiple frames of references and analyses her life in these contexts.
Curie was born in Poland during a time when Poland was under the rule of Russia and Germany, this subjugation is wound in the psyche of any Polish. In Curie's life also this is great influence she feels strongly about her Polish identity and the Polish language right through her life. Even the decision to leave Poland is taken in such pain and anguish of living the mother nation. By exploring this aspect of the Polish history and placing Curie in this context we get a deeper understanding of her life.
We see similar parallel narrations throughout the book, for example, the author gives the glimpse of prevailing social attitudes in France. France was deeply conservative in the belief towards women in general. Women were not prominently represented in Scientific education and research institutes and there was tremendous resistance towards it. This amplifies the stupendous struggle Curie had to undergo to get the credit for her discoveries for her rightful contributions.
This contextualization of the life of the person in the general milieu of the time gives clearly the dialectic between the multiple forces.
The great strength of the biography is the detailed research and sources the author has explored in order to document the life of Curie. It was totally a historic and inspiring life to understand the life of Curie and her epic life.
The book captures the entire life of Madam Curie, from her early childhood days in Poland to her death in Paris as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century.
The book's greatest strength is the parallel histories and narration it offers, it places Curie amongst multiple frames of references and analyses her life in these contexts.
Curie was born in Poland during a time when Poland was under the rule of Russia and Germany, this subjugation is wound in the psyche of any Polish. In Curie's life also this is great influence she feels strongly about her Polish identity and the Polish language right through her life. Even the decision to leave Poland is taken in such pain and anguish of living the mother nation. By exploring this aspect of the Polish history and placing Curie in this context we get a deeper understanding of her life.
We see similar parallel narrations throughout the book, for example, the author gives the glimpse of prevailing social attitudes in France. France was deeply conservative in the belief towards women in general. Women were not prominently represented in Scientific education and research institutes and there was tremendous resistance towards it. This amplifies the stupendous struggle Curie had to undergo to get the credit for her discoveries for her rightful contributions.
This contextualization of the life of the person in the general milieu of the time gives clearly the dialectic between the multiple forces.
The great strength of the biography is the detailed research and sources the author has explored in order to document the life of Curie. It was totally a historic and inspiring life to understand the life of Curie and her epic life.
February 21, 2019
I gave this biography 4 stars mid-way through but raised it to 5 stars at the end. The author, Susan Quinn, included more of Marie Curie's personal life than had previous biographers. I was afraid there was too much emphasis on the personal and not enough upon her actual scientific research but the end of the book proved me wrong. I read this book after reading a fictional book on accidental radioactive poisonous of a couple in Georgia and Oak Ridge and a non-fictional accounting of the women poisoned in the use of radium infused paint on watch and clock dials. At the end of Quinn's book, she brings together the threads of radioactivity in manufacturing; radium in the treatment of cancer (and other medical uses such as Marie Curie's medical vans during World War I in locating bullets in wounded soldiers); and radium poisoning's slow "silent" history in the scientific labs such as Curie's labs.
Quinn's notes, bibliography, and text structure is quite good. As a researcher, I thought her capturing of Curie and her colleagues' studies, theorizing, and significance-building was well done, all in all. I knew about Curie's discoveries of polonium and radium but I did not know about her dedication to establishing the international standards and regulations.
(One puzzle: Why was experimental grade radium so expensive in France and industrial grade radium so cheap that the watch dial companies encouraged its employees to suck/eat it in their pointing of tiny paintbrushes and X-ray machines for shoe fittings?
Quinn's notes, bibliography, and text structure is quite good. As a researcher, I thought her capturing of Curie and her colleagues' studies, theorizing, and significance-building was well done, all in all. I knew about Curie's discoveries of polonium and radium but I did not know about her dedication to establishing the international standards and regulations.
(One puzzle: Why was experimental grade radium so expensive in France and industrial grade radium so cheap that the watch dial companies encouraged its employees to suck/eat it in their pointing of tiny paintbrushes and X-ray machines for shoe fittings?
January 4, 2020
Niewielu mamy Polaków w historii, których umiejętna mitologizacja byłaby czymś wskazanym. Bohaterstwo romantyczne zamieniłbym w zbiorowej świadomości na pozytywistyczny etos. Nikt bardziej do obu tych ról się nie nadaje, jak Maria Skłodowska-Curie. Uważam wręcz, że zapoznanie się z jej biografią powinno być obowiązkiem każdego. W jej życiu, na każdym poziomie - w warstwie odpowiedzialności obywatelskiej, w oddaniu pracy zawodowej, w poczuci osobistej godności i skromności - skupia się to, co najpełniej może człowieka formować. Nic, tylko czerpać garściami z jej życia.
"Życie Marii Curie" autorstwa Susan Quinn, amerykańskiej pisarki popularyzującej naukę, jest solidną pracą pokazującą Marię oddaną temu, bez czego nie wyobrażała sobie osobistego spełnienia, czyli poznaniu jak funkcjonuje świat. Opisała świetnie jej dom rodzinny z wzorcami patriotycznymi i wszechobecną nauką.
Książkę można analizować pod różnymi kątami. Jest sytuacja inteligencji polskiej pod zaborami, jest walka kobiet o równouprawnienie, no i sporo o przemianach w naukach ścisłych na przełomie wieków XIX/XX, kiedy poznano właściwości atomów (szczególnie wyczerpujący jest rozdział „Teoria materii”). Quinn i tłumaczce mógłbym wytknąć jedynie kilka wpadek natury merytorycznej, co przy ogromie materiału stanowiącego bazę książki nie jest wielkim przestępstwem. Autorka słusznie wolała nie wdawać się w detale techniczne pracy Marii, bo taki opis mógłby uwikłać ją w konfrontację ze specjalistami.
Chyba najbardziej w głowie po lekturze pozostają dwie kwestie. Pierwszą jest jaskrawe pokazanie problemu kobiet w uzyskaniu wyższego wykształcenia. Tylko ciężka praca, wyrzeczenie się wielu radości doczesnych, dawały młodym absolwentkom gimnazjum szansę na ubieganie się o tytuły naukowe. Poza tym trzeba było być niezwykle uzdolnionym, o co w rodzinach Skłodowskich i Curie było łatwiej, skoro ich przedstawiciele uzyskali aż 5 nagród Nobla (córka Marii Irena w wieku 11 lat różniczkowała dla wprawy podczas letnich wakacji).
Drugą sprawą, która właściwie nadała życiu Marii barwy, której nie planowała, był romans z Langevinem i skandal w całej Francji, który rozpętały brukowce publikujące ich korespondencję. Ona wdowa-imigrantka, on mąż z ‘cnotliwą’ połowicą. Quinn do końca jednoznacznie nie rozłożyła win w tym trójkącie, choć sympatie zostawiła po stronie Marii. Obrzydliwe manipulacje prasy grającej na prymitywnych instynktach, insynuacji i cynizmie miały napędzić sprzedaż i dać paliwo polityczne do ognia, który wciąż tlił się po sprawie Dreyfusa.
Książkę czyta się bardzo dobrze. Dużo dopowiadają przypisy, które ustalają pełniejszy kontekst, czasem pokazują źródła, które co ciekawe, były nieadekwatnie uwzględniane w tłumaczeniach na różne języki (głównie chodzi o biografię Marii pióra jej młodszej córki Ewy). Taka wielostronna praca Quinn ze źródłami, wynika z podjętej przez nią próby demitologizacji Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie. Okazuje się, że trochę zawiniła tu rodzina, która po jej śmierci pewne materiały chciała wycofać z publicznej dostępności, trochę z odrealnienia życia badaczki, którego dokonano w celach marketingowych, głównie na rynek amerykański. Ten ostatni proceder wynikał z potrzeby promowania drogiej medycyny nowoczesnej i zbiórki funduszy na badania.
Warto wspomnieć, że Quinn bardzo subtelnie i z talentem zarysowała nieszablonowy charakter Marii, szczególnie ujawniony w kontaktach z córkami i współpracownikami. Była troskliwą i kochającą matką, choć przeszła depresję po śmierci Piotra; popełniała błędy wychowawcze. W laboratorium odbierano ją czasem jako oschłą czy apodyktyczną, choć tak naprawdę chroniła wnętrze przed nieproszonymi gośćmi. Wobec oddanych współpracowników była otwarta, pomocna; traktowała pracowitych ludzi z szacunkiem.
Nie da się w krótkiej opinii zawrzeć wszystkich aspektów poruszanych w książce. Sporo ciekawych rzeczy dowiadujemy się o kontaktach personalnych wewnątrz fizyczno-chemicznego środowiska, którego Maria była istotnym elementem. Wydaje się, że koledzy zaakceptowali ją, jako kolegę, dzielącego się z nimi wynikami pracy, która przecież ich wszystkich pochłaniała bez reszty. Życie Marii pokazuje, że na przełomie XIX i XX wieku kobieta-naukowiec miała się lepiej niż kobieta-równoprawny obywatel. Trzeba było tylko w tym męskim świecie wywalczyć sobie miejsce ciężką pracą.
Małżeństwo, choć krótkie, było spełnione. Nauka dla Marii i Piotra była sensem, pasją, wyzwaniem i przygodą. W dziennikach, pisanych przez pierwsze miesiące po śmierci Piotra, Maria wspominała ich rozmowę odbytą na dzień przed tragicznym wypadkiem, który jej go odebrał (str. 337):
"Powiedziałam ci, że ludzie, z którymi rozmawialiśmy na ten temat, nie rozumieją naszej idei, w nauczaniu nauk ścisłych upatrują jedynie prezentacji zwykłych faktów, nie rozumieją, że mówiliśmy o wpajaniu dzieciom wielkiego umiłowania przyrody, życia, a zarazem chęci ich poznania. Zgodziłeś się ze mną i czułam, że zapanowała miedzy nami rzadkie i cudowne wzajemne zrozumienie. Czy wtedy to powiedziałeś? Nie pamiętam, ale ileż razy mój Piotrze mówiłeś to do mnie: 'Naprawdę, na wszystko patrzymy w ten sam sposób.'"
Takie prowadzili życie – dla nich zwyczajne, choć dla wielu magiczne, a dla jeszcze innych niezrozumiałe czy nie mogące jakoby dać satysfakcji. Oni byli w tym szczęśliwi. Lat wspólnego przerzucania w zimnej szopie ton blendy uranowej, dzięki której zdobyli bezcenne miligramy radu i polonu, nikt im nie odbierze.
Gorąco zachęcam do tej pasjonującej lektury.
BARDZO DOBRE - 8/10
"Życie Marii Curie" autorstwa Susan Quinn, amerykańskiej pisarki popularyzującej naukę, jest solidną pracą pokazującą Marię oddaną temu, bez czego nie wyobrażała sobie osobistego spełnienia, czyli poznaniu jak funkcjonuje świat. Opisała świetnie jej dom rodzinny z wzorcami patriotycznymi i wszechobecną nauką.
Książkę można analizować pod różnymi kątami. Jest sytuacja inteligencji polskiej pod zaborami, jest walka kobiet o równouprawnienie, no i sporo o przemianach w naukach ścisłych na przełomie wieków XIX/XX, kiedy poznano właściwości atomów (szczególnie wyczerpujący jest rozdział „Teoria materii”). Quinn i tłumaczce mógłbym wytknąć jedynie kilka wpadek natury merytorycznej, co przy ogromie materiału stanowiącego bazę książki nie jest wielkim przestępstwem. Autorka słusznie wolała nie wdawać się w detale techniczne pracy Marii, bo taki opis mógłby uwikłać ją w konfrontację ze specjalistami.
Chyba najbardziej w głowie po lekturze pozostają dwie kwestie. Pierwszą jest jaskrawe pokazanie problemu kobiet w uzyskaniu wyższego wykształcenia. Tylko ciężka praca, wyrzeczenie się wielu radości doczesnych, dawały młodym absolwentkom gimnazjum szansę na ubieganie się o tytuły naukowe. Poza tym trzeba było być niezwykle uzdolnionym, o co w rodzinach Skłodowskich i Curie było łatwiej, skoro ich przedstawiciele uzyskali aż 5 nagród Nobla (córka Marii Irena w wieku 11 lat różniczkowała dla wprawy podczas letnich wakacji).
Drugą sprawą, która właściwie nadała życiu Marii barwy, której nie planowała, był romans z Langevinem i skandal w całej Francji, który rozpętały brukowce publikujące ich korespondencję. Ona wdowa-imigrantka, on mąż z ‘cnotliwą’ połowicą. Quinn do końca jednoznacznie nie rozłożyła win w tym trójkącie, choć sympatie zostawiła po stronie Marii. Obrzydliwe manipulacje prasy grającej na prymitywnych instynktach, insynuacji i cynizmie miały napędzić sprzedaż i dać paliwo polityczne do ognia, który wciąż tlił się po sprawie Dreyfusa.
Książkę czyta się bardzo dobrze. Dużo dopowiadają przypisy, które ustalają pełniejszy kontekst, czasem pokazują źródła, które co ciekawe, były nieadekwatnie uwzględniane w tłumaczeniach na różne języki (głównie chodzi o biografię Marii pióra jej młodszej córki Ewy). Taka wielostronna praca Quinn ze źródłami, wynika z podjętej przez nią próby demitologizacji Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie. Okazuje się, że trochę zawiniła tu rodzina, która po jej śmierci pewne materiały chciała wycofać z publicznej dostępności, trochę z odrealnienia życia badaczki, którego dokonano w celach marketingowych, głównie na rynek amerykański. Ten ostatni proceder wynikał z potrzeby promowania drogiej medycyny nowoczesnej i zbiórki funduszy na badania.
Warto wspomnieć, że Quinn bardzo subtelnie i z talentem zarysowała nieszablonowy charakter Marii, szczególnie ujawniony w kontaktach z córkami i współpracownikami. Była troskliwą i kochającą matką, choć przeszła depresję po śmierci Piotra; popełniała błędy wychowawcze. W laboratorium odbierano ją czasem jako oschłą czy apodyktyczną, choć tak naprawdę chroniła wnętrze przed nieproszonymi gośćmi. Wobec oddanych współpracowników była otwarta, pomocna; traktowała pracowitych ludzi z szacunkiem.
Nie da się w krótkiej opinii zawrzeć wszystkich aspektów poruszanych w książce. Sporo ciekawych rzeczy dowiadujemy się o kontaktach personalnych wewnątrz fizyczno-chemicznego środowiska, którego Maria była istotnym elementem. Wydaje się, że koledzy zaakceptowali ją, jako kolegę, dzielącego się z nimi wynikami pracy, która przecież ich wszystkich pochłaniała bez reszty. Życie Marii pokazuje, że na przełomie XIX i XX wieku kobieta-naukowiec miała się lepiej niż kobieta-równoprawny obywatel. Trzeba było tylko w tym męskim świecie wywalczyć sobie miejsce ciężką pracą.
Małżeństwo, choć krótkie, było spełnione. Nauka dla Marii i Piotra była sensem, pasją, wyzwaniem i przygodą. W dziennikach, pisanych przez pierwsze miesiące po śmierci Piotra, Maria wspominała ich rozmowę odbytą na dzień przed tragicznym wypadkiem, który jej go odebrał (str. 337):
"Powiedziałam ci, że ludzie, z którymi rozmawialiśmy na ten temat, nie rozumieją naszej idei, w nauczaniu nauk ścisłych upatrują jedynie prezentacji zwykłych faktów, nie rozumieją, że mówiliśmy o wpajaniu dzieciom wielkiego umiłowania przyrody, życia, a zarazem chęci ich poznania. Zgodziłeś się ze mną i czułam, że zapanowała miedzy nami rzadkie i cudowne wzajemne zrozumienie. Czy wtedy to powiedziałeś? Nie pamiętam, ale ileż razy mój Piotrze mówiłeś to do mnie: 'Naprawdę, na wszystko patrzymy w ten sam sposób.'"
Takie prowadzili życie – dla nich zwyczajne, choć dla wielu magiczne, a dla jeszcze innych niezrozumiałe czy nie mogące jakoby dać satysfakcji. Oni byli w tym szczęśliwi. Lat wspólnego przerzucania w zimnej szopie ton blendy uranowej, dzięki której zdobyli bezcenne miligramy radu i polonu, nikt im nie odbierze.
Gorąco zachęcam do tej pasjonującej lektury.
BARDZO DOBRE - 8/10
October 29, 2020
One of the only books that I have been reading over a long period of time and always found it easy to jump right back in. Perhaps the writing itself would earn a 4.5, but combined with the extraordinary work and life of a female superhero physicist it has to be a 5.
May 3, 2020
Curie herself was amazing and fascinating. The book a little bit less so. The book is heavy in scientific jargon but, assuming you are a lay person, does a poor job explaining the science (there are no diagrams) and the significance of some of the achievements. Some parts were easier to understand and I learned more about chemistry in 20 pages than I have in 20 years. In particular, if you've watched HBO's "Chernobyl," some parts of this book will be fascinating. The reader also learns some interesting Polish and French history. Otherwise I also thought the book was a little too long - some parts could have been summarized or described more succinctly.
February 21, 2021
La biografia più completa della grande scienziata!
March 29, 2014
If you are interested in the details of Marie Curies daily life almost from cradle to grave, then this is the book for you. If you want to learn anything about her science you will have to look elsewhere; there barely 20 pages even remotely about her science. In contrast, there is 5 pages on the design of her bicycle. You will find, in excruciating detail, in addition to her daily life, commentary on French political history and the social structure of society and commentary on her furniture. The writing is competent, but rather pedrestrian. What Ms. Quinn has done is to take one of the most fascinating and influential women of the 20th, or any other century,and made her boring.
August 18, 2013
Detailed and insightful. I had not read much about Marie's life therefore her entire story was new to me. Her translated correspondance provides so much into her thoughts and emotions she went through during her various experiences. Her voice was surprisingly a little Victorian over-dramatic which I was not expecting at all but i assume was normal for her time. I imagine this book would not be for everyone, but I thought it was engaging and interesting. I can't wait to read the one her daughter Eve authored after Marie's death.
May 12, 2008
Excellent detail about this woman's amazing life. This author held well to Marie's 'religion of memories' that to chronicle a life was an act of love.
Quinn interviewed Marie's daughter, Eve Curie Labouisse, who also wrote a biography about her mother called 'Madame Curie' in 1937.
Quinn has written a book for the modern reader to understand Marie's time and accomplishments.
Quinn interviewed Marie's daughter, Eve Curie Labouisse, who also wrote a biography about her mother called 'Madame Curie' in 1937.
Quinn has written a book for the modern reader to understand Marie's time and accomplishments.
June 30, 2016
I loved this account of a remarkable woman! Her struggle with sexism and with science, her loves and losses and achievements. What a role-model, and what a fantastically written biography!
April 24, 2025
Nearly cried at this book. Such a deep and engaging read. Life was brutal
July 23, 2017
There seems to be a fair amount of hagiography in common perceptions of Marie Sklodowski Curie; a strength of this book is that it tells her remarkable story with a minimum of fuss and in well-researched detail. How a woman born in 19th century Russian-occupied Poland to middle class but struggling parents managed to acquire a first rate scientific education (at the Sorbonne in Paris) then go on to win Nobel prizes in both Physics and Chemistry (and her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie won another!) is the subject of this well-balanced biography. Her husband and collaborator Pierre had something to do with it but it was her intelligence, upbringing, and incredible persistence in acquiring and applying knowledge that made the difference between accomplishment and greatness.
The late 19th and early 20th century were times of great advancement in physics and chemistry, but there was no comprehensive ‘theory of matter’ that fully explained the energy contained within matter. Whether matter even consisted of atoms, much less the detailed structure was not known when Marie and Pierre Curie began their research into Uranium and it’s ore Pitchblende, both of which radiated enormous amounts of energy, enough to ionize surrounding air, and could not be explained by the two forces known at the time: gravitational and electromagnetic. Pure Uranium was slightly energetic but strangely it crude ore was enormously so in comparison: thus Polonium (named for Poland) and Radium, the radioactive decay products of Uranium, were isolated in pitchblende and characterized. This was long and tedious work which resulted in radiation burns to the fingers and probably enormous exposure, but it contributed to a theory of matter advanced by Rutherford and others where the small and dense nucleus, with its tightly bound nucleons (that could decay and yield up the enormous energy of Radium and Polonium), are surrounded by shells of electrons. Radium, the mysterious element which released so much nuclear energy, became somewhat of a craze in Paris: people would carry around vials of radium salts and solutions complete with a zinc sulfide screen to view the phosphorescence produced by its decay.
Pierre died early in an accident crossing the street in Paris and Marie carried on, building an amazing scientific career, but it affected her for life. She dressed always in black and was truly at home only in the laboratory, but she raised two daughters, had a scandalous affair with another physicist, and conceived of, designed, and drove portable X-ray trucks to the front during World War I that helped field surgeons in removing bullets and shrapnel from wounded soldiers. She was respected highly by her scientific peers, including Einstein, but led a very guarded life after the untimely death of Pierre.
The author weaves together the scientific achievements of Marie Curie with her life in turbulent times and her devotion to her children exceptionally well. The “Theory of Matter” (Chapter 8) was a high point of the book for me. In this, the author takes us back to the early 1900’s and has us perceive the mysteries presented by the radioactive elements as they appeared at the time, rather than look back from our present knowledge of the atom, when everything has fallen neatly into place.
The late 19th and early 20th century were times of great advancement in physics and chemistry, but there was no comprehensive ‘theory of matter’ that fully explained the energy contained within matter. Whether matter even consisted of atoms, much less the detailed structure was not known when Marie and Pierre Curie began their research into Uranium and it’s ore Pitchblende, both of which radiated enormous amounts of energy, enough to ionize surrounding air, and could not be explained by the two forces known at the time: gravitational and electromagnetic. Pure Uranium was slightly energetic but strangely it crude ore was enormously so in comparison: thus Polonium (named for Poland) and Radium, the radioactive decay products of Uranium, were isolated in pitchblende and characterized. This was long and tedious work which resulted in radiation burns to the fingers and probably enormous exposure, but it contributed to a theory of matter advanced by Rutherford and others where the small and dense nucleus, with its tightly bound nucleons (that could decay and yield up the enormous energy of Radium and Polonium), are surrounded by shells of electrons. Radium, the mysterious element which released so much nuclear energy, became somewhat of a craze in Paris: people would carry around vials of radium salts and solutions complete with a zinc sulfide screen to view the phosphorescence produced by its decay.
Pierre died early in an accident crossing the street in Paris and Marie carried on, building an amazing scientific career, but it affected her for life. She dressed always in black and was truly at home only in the laboratory, but she raised two daughters, had a scandalous affair with another physicist, and conceived of, designed, and drove portable X-ray trucks to the front during World War I that helped field surgeons in removing bullets and shrapnel from wounded soldiers. She was respected highly by her scientific peers, including Einstein, but led a very guarded life after the untimely death of Pierre.
The author weaves together the scientific achievements of Marie Curie with her life in turbulent times and her devotion to her children exceptionally well. The “Theory of Matter” (Chapter 8) was a high point of the book for me. In this, the author takes us back to the early 1900’s and has us perceive the mysteries presented by the radioactive elements as they appeared at the time, rather than look back from our present knowledge of the atom, when everything has fallen neatly into place.
May 9, 2018
I absolutely adored this biography of Marie Curie. Rather than simply concentrating on the science that Marie did, Quinn wrote about her as a woman, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a mother. It was amazing the amount of things that she accomplished in spite of living at a time, when very few women became scientists. She persevered in spite of the limitations forced upon her at the time, and for me a Deaf woman who decided to go into science, that's really important that other women see that it can be done.
I had known basics about Marie Curie, and her husband, Pierre, but this book filled in the blanks. It covered her life in Poland before she went to France to become a Scientist. She actually was a lot older than I thought she was when she left Poland. It is interesting to read about her move to France, and her original meeting with Pierre. It took some time for her to develop love for him, but they had a very strong companionship and marriage. She was a relatively young woman when Pierre died, leaving her with two small girls and his father to take care of. She did a good job taking care of Pierre's father, which tells you a lot about the person she was.
I'm amazed that she got two Nobel Prizes, especially given the awful male chavinism of the time. The first one actually went more to Pierre, though they were working in her field. The second definitely went to her...but the questions and prejudices of her male colleagues in the field made her life difficult. It was interesting to read how Curie's thinking scared so many men and her abilities in understanding radiation drove the field forward, just because other scientists were afraid she would get their first. But she quietly did her work, and she rarely complained. I would definitely have a hard time doing that.
She had a difficult life, but she had a full life. She loved her family, she loved her work to the point that I don't think she regretted the fact that working with radium put her life in danger. This biography is a must read for young women, who want to achieve in science...to demonstrate that it could be done. We need more women as role models who are not 'celebrities', who are not lauded for doing something innane. WE need more role models like this...
I had known basics about Marie Curie, and her husband, Pierre, but this book filled in the blanks. It covered her life in Poland before she went to France to become a Scientist. She actually was a lot older than I thought she was when she left Poland. It is interesting to read about her move to France, and her original meeting with Pierre. It took some time for her to develop love for him, but they had a very strong companionship and marriage. She was a relatively young woman when Pierre died, leaving her with two small girls and his father to take care of. She did a good job taking care of Pierre's father, which tells you a lot about the person she was.
I'm amazed that she got two Nobel Prizes, especially given the awful male chavinism of the time. The first one actually went more to Pierre, though they were working in her field. The second definitely went to her...but the questions and prejudices of her male colleagues in the field made her life difficult. It was interesting to read how Curie's thinking scared so many men and her abilities in understanding radiation drove the field forward, just because other scientists were afraid she would get their first. But she quietly did her work, and she rarely complained. I would definitely have a hard time doing that.
She had a difficult life, but she had a full life. She loved her family, she loved her work to the point that I don't think she regretted the fact that working with radium put her life in danger. This biography is a must read for young women, who want to achieve in science...to demonstrate that it could be done. We need more women as role models who are not 'celebrities', who are not lauded for doing something innane. WE need more role models like this...
December 1, 2023
Many of us recall Marie Curie's name from various books, TV programs, and general works. We know that she and her husband Pierre discovered radium -- announced to the world on December 26, 1898 -- and other radioactive elements. We may also recall that she died of radiation poisoning on July 4, 1934. But what most of us may not know, or will have forgotten, are the conditionals under which these discoveries were made and the collaborative efforts behind the discoveries. These are revealed in this book written by Eve Currie, daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie, and first published in 1937.
As much as I enjoyed learning about the process of isolating radium in laboratories that were ill equipped, poorly ventilated, and woefully under-funded, I was equally amazed by the glimpses into the personal life of Marie and her family. Eve used correspondence and her own memories to provide the reader with a flowing tale of persistence, personal sacrifice, and loyal friends, while also painting a portrait of her mother's strength of focus, lifelong commitment to science, and love for her daughters (there were two). Eve pulled no punches in describing the barriers to women in science during Marie's lifetime, just as she filled the pages with reverence for her mother's tenacity and unflappable work-arounds. One of Marie's achievements that stood out for me was her success in devising portable x-ray units for field hospitals during World War I; nothing I had heard about this remarkable person had included her wartime heroism.
The biography was not a quick read, but it was well worth the effort. I'm glad I read it
As much as I enjoyed learning about the process of isolating radium in laboratories that were ill equipped, poorly ventilated, and woefully under-funded, I was equally amazed by the glimpses into the personal life of Marie and her family. Eve used correspondence and her own memories to provide the reader with a flowing tale of persistence, personal sacrifice, and loyal friends, while also painting a portrait of her mother's strength of focus, lifelong commitment to science, and love for her daughters (there were two). Eve pulled no punches in describing the barriers to women in science during Marie's lifetime, just as she filled the pages with reverence for her mother's tenacity and unflappable work-arounds. One of Marie's achievements that stood out for me was her success in devising portable x-ray units for field hospitals during World War I; nothing I had heard about this remarkable person had included her wartime heroism.
The biography was not a quick read, but it was well worth the effort. I'm glad I read it
May 14, 2019
An intimate look at the mother of physics.
The author’s purpose in writing this book was to debunk some of the mythology surrounding Marie Sklodowska-Curie and present her as a real person who had successes and struggles. Quinn does so spectacularly, covering Curie’s life from childhood to her death in a well-researched narrative. Drawing from around 130 sources, including writings from Curie and her family, Quinn presents a well researched, intimate look at the woman who is considered the mother of physics and chemistry. This book is targeted at people who wish to know more about Marie Curie but are not scientists. While Quinn does discuss Curie’s discovery of polonium and radium, she does not use technical terms and focuses more on the rest of her life. For comparison, five pages are spent on the discovery, and close to twenty are spent describing her and Pierre’s cycling hobby. This book’s greatest value comes from humanizing Marie Curie by revealing her private life and debunking myths about her. It also does an excellent job at providing context for the scientific community (she knew Einstein and Rutherford) and French politics at the time.
This is a fascinating read but more suitable to a writer or historian than a scientist. The sheer amount of detail can be overwhelming at times, but Quinn provides one of the most complete, personal looks at Marie Curie there is. A useful addition to any school or public library.
The author’s purpose in writing this book was to debunk some of the mythology surrounding Marie Sklodowska-Curie and present her as a real person who had successes and struggles. Quinn does so spectacularly, covering Curie’s life from childhood to her death in a well-researched narrative. Drawing from around 130 sources, including writings from Curie and her family, Quinn presents a well researched, intimate look at the woman who is considered the mother of physics and chemistry. This book is targeted at people who wish to know more about Marie Curie but are not scientists. While Quinn does discuss Curie’s discovery of polonium and radium, she does not use technical terms and focuses more on the rest of her life. For comparison, five pages are spent on the discovery, and close to twenty are spent describing her and Pierre’s cycling hobby. This book’s greatest value comes from humanizing Marie Curie by revealing her private life and debunking myths about her. It also does an excellent job at providing context for the scientific community (she knew Einstein and Rutherford) and French politics at the time.
This is a fascinating read but more suitable to a writer or historian than a scientist. The sheer amount of detail can be overwhelming at times, but Quinn provides one of the most complete, personal looks at Marie Curie there is. A useful addition to any school or public library.
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