Marie Curie: A Life from Beginning to End

by Hourly History

Marie Curie * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. One of the most famous women of the twentieth century, Marie Curie was a trailblazer in the truest sense. Known for her discovery of two radioactive elements, radium and polonium, Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. She remains the only woman to win two Nobel Prizes in different sciences. Inside you will read about... ✓ Early Life and Loss ✓ The Flying University ✓ Nobel Prizes ✓ Scandals ✓ Curie’s First World War Efforts ✓ The Discovery that Killed Her And much more! Marie Curie lived by her own rules in a society marred by misogyny and xenophobia. A scientist, but also a loving wife and mother, she defied expectations as a matter of course. Curie also fought for her country during the First World War the best way she knew how—with science. There is much more to Marie Curie’s story than the discovery of the radioactive elements that eventually killed her. Series Biographies of Women in History Book 4

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Science, Physics, Historical, Chemistry

45 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2018

About the author

At Hourly History, we focus on publishing history books that are concise, straightforward and take no longer than one hour to read.

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Reviews

[Nihal · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.”

Marie Curie was known for many reasons. The discovery of radium and Polonium, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, was also the founder of Curie Institute. Her death was due to the side effects of her own discovery. She had to face many problems throughout her life. She was usually rejected from many awards due to her gender, had a fragmented love history, and had a troublesome childhood. Even though she made large contributions to the discoveries of radium and polonium, her identity wasn’t well-known.


5/5 stars since the book was up to expectations and didn’t miss a single major fact about Curie’s life.

[Readasaurus Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Holy crap. This woman was flat out amazing. The fact she even lived as long as she did working with radium is crazy.

[Millennial Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and informative read about a true trailblazer in science. Marie Curie was a fascinating figure and is the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two different fields. While not the most in-depth biography, it provides a great introduction to Marie Curie's life and is a good starting place to learn more about her.

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

" ... That’s not to say the Curies didn’t experience professional conflict. Scientists make their name by proving their theories first. There were other scientists working on radioactivity who disagreed with the Curies’ hypotheses or sought to undermine their efforts. Of course, Marie also experienced prejudice for the simple fact of her being a woman. Initially the Nobel Prize committee intended to offer the prize to Pierre and Henri alone.

"In 1903, four leading scientists, Marie’s former mentor Gabriel Lippmann amongst them, wrote a nominating letter that ignored Marie’s contribution to the discovery of radium and polonium. The letter described how Pierre and Henri had worked side by side to come to their discovery. They wrote, “it appears impossible for us to separate the names of the two physicists, and therefore we do not hesitate to propose to you that the Nobel Prize be shared between Mr. Becquerel and Mr. Curie.”

"One lone committee member, Swedish mathematician Magnus Gösta Mittag-Leffler, came to Marie’s defense. His criticism, combined with a strongly-worded complaint from Pierre, was successful, and the committee added Marie’s name to the nomination. In 1903, Marie Curie became the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize. She would remain the only female Nobel laureate in the sciences until 1935 when her daughter followed in her trail-blazing footsteps."

Humanity owes gratitude to Magnus Gösta Mittag-Leffler, for this, as much as for his work in mathematics - and to Pierre Curie, for his support for Marie Curie!
***

"“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”

"—Marie Curie"
***

Here, author begins lying after the first sentence.

"Maria Sklodowska, later Marie Curie, was born near the ancient center of Warsaw on November 7, 1867. ... "

So far, fine. But -

" ... From the moment of her birth, Curie joined the Polish struggle for independence from the oppressive rule of Russia’s tsars. ... "

How's that, exactly? It's a lie, except the author wishes to emphasise the fact that Poland was then ruled by Russia and Polish people weren't happy about it.

But this has been the history of Poland for most of its history, ruled by either Germany or Russia, even before Germany was united.

" ... The Sklodowskis were zealous patriots and passionate intellectuals. As a result, Curie developed a deep love for her homeland and a respect for education that would influence the rest of her illustrious life.

"Occupied Warsaw in the late nineteenth century was not an easy place for a young Polish woman to pursue her dreams. In her quest for education and a career that would grant her independence, Curie came up against significant obstacles. Her mother died when she was ten years old, leaving an emotional wound that would never fully heal. The Sklodowski family was not wealthy, and there was no way to pay for young Curie to study overseas. As women were not permitted to study at Polish universities, Curie carried out her own higher education in secret."

Here, for some reason, author blanks out the most obvious known fact, of her father encouraging and supporting two daughters and providing the inspiration for education and excellence in academic pursuit.
***


"It’s surprising to learn that Curie worked as a governess during her early adult years. She had to earn a living, and with no outlet for her scientific genius, she lived in the homes of wealthier families and taught their children to read and write. When Curie moved to Paris and enrolled in the University of Paris, she continued to struggle to make ends meet. Living alone in a freezing garret, Curie still later looked back on her student years as some of her happiest."

Why is it surprising? This was one of the few ways a respectable young unmarried woman of middle class with strained circumstances could help her family make ends meet.

"Even after Curie had made the incredible discoveries of two radioactive elements, she had to fight for recognition. The spoils of fame never interested Curie, only the funding she might secure to improve her lab, hire assistants, and continue her work uninterrupted. Known for her modest lifestyle, any money Curie had left over from prizes and awards she gave to her friends and family. She converted her second Nobel Prize winnings into French war bonds during World War I and lost everything. Curie and her husband, Pierre, declined to patent the radium-isolation process. Their hope was that radiology could do more good in the world if it could be developed without restrictions."

That fight for recognition was chiefly due to misogyny on part of West, unwilling to admit that women were no less than males, due to an abrahmic creed imposed on society and Inquisition having terrified society for centuries.
***

"Family also meant the world to Curie, and the Sklodowski siblings were remarkably close throughout their lives. Irene and Eve, Curie’s loving daughters, had the utmost respect for their mother and worked hard to preserve her legacy.

"Despite the prejudice that surrounded her, Curie’s genius shone through. Marie Curie developed the theory of radioactivity and discovered two new elements. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize and the first and only person to win twice in two different sciences. The world Curie left behind was better—for Poles, for women, and for scientists—than the one she had been born into. In her life and work, Marie Curie created that positive change."
****

"“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”

"—Marie Curie"
***

"Maria Salomea Sklodowska was born on November 7, 1867. Both of her parents, Bronislawa and Wladyslaw Sklodowski, were teachers in Warsaw, then a part of the Russian Empire. Bronislawa was a pious woman, and the Sklodowskis named their fifth child after Mary, the Black Virgin of Czestochowa, a symbol of both intense Catholic faith and Polish national pride."

"Black Virgin"????

Is that one of the rare recognitions of the fact that church worships a son of a Jewish, West Asian woman?

Or is this from an earlier religion that church conceals by pretending that all those deities in grottos across Europe are nothing but the said Jewish woman, mother of the king of Jews?

Just as the church took over Saturnalia, when people of Europe wouldn't stop celebrating it, and so church thereafter lied, and pretended ever since then, that it's the birthday of their object of worship, which in fact was months away.
***

"Curie referred to her mother’s death as “the first great sorrow of my life,” and she struggled for years with a profound depression caused by her loss. At the time of her mother’s death, Curie was attending the private school of Madame Jadwiga Sikorska. Here, the staff and students lived a double life with two different schedules. One schedule was in Russian and included the subjects the authorities chose. The other was the real schedule that included Polish language studies, history, and geography. The whole school collaborated in this illusion and lived in a state of constant alertness against inspection by the Russian authorities.

"Already overwhelmed by the death of her mother, Curie began to struggle at school. She was an exceptional student, but the emotional toll of their shared deception gave her anxiety and she would regularly break down in lessons. Madame Sikorska suggested that Wladyslaw take Maria out of school for a year before the fourth grade. Instead, Wladyslaw took the unexpected measure of sending his daughter to the government-run Gymnasium Number Three in Warsaw. Writing about her years at the gymnasium after the fact, Curie described them as unbearable. She and her classmates “lost all joy of life, and precious feelings of distrust and indignation weighed upon their childhood.”

"Yet in a letter written while she was at the gymnasium, Curie described enjoying school. With her friend Kazia, Curie found ways to undermine Russian oppression and continued her studies of Polish subjects and language. She graduated from Gymnasium Number Three in 1883. Like her sister Bronia and brother Jozef before her, she finished first in her class and was awarded the gold medal."
****

"“All that I saw and learned that was new delighted me. It was like a new world opened to me, the world of science, which I was at least permitted to know at liberty.”

"—Marie Curie"
***

"Marie wrote of the first time she ever saw Pierre. He was standing in a French window opening onto a balcony. She wrote, “He seemed to me very young, though he was at that time 35 years old. I was struck by the open expression of his face and by the slight suggestion of detachment in his whole attitude. His speech, rather slow and deliberate, his simplicity, and his smile, at once grave and youthful, inspired confidence.”

"Marie and Pierre had much in common—their upbringings, their financial troubles, their views on religion and politics, and their passion for their work. Before long, Pierre and Marie were in love. Pierre made his intentions clear and asked Marie to marry him. Later, he told her that asking him to marry her was the only act he had performed in his life without hesitation. Marie’s painful experience with Kazimierz Zorawski and her love of her Polish homeland both gave her pause. She had always imagined that if she married she would marry a fellow Pole.

"Marie spent the summer of 1894 back in Poland, during which time she and Pierre exchanged many letters. Pierre’s aim was to convince Marie to move in with him in Paris and marry him. But Marie was reluctant to give up her precious independence, and on her return to Paris she moved into another apartment alone.
***

"However, in the summer of 1895, soon after Pierre earned his Ph.D. and presented ground-breaking work on magnetism, Marie wrote to her family to announce hers and Pierre’s engagement. Things moved quickly. Pierre was granted a professorship at the Sorbonne, and on July 26, 1895, Pierre and Marie were married. The wedding took place at the Sceaux Town Hall in a no-frills ceremony during which Marie wore a simple navy blue suit—the same outfit she later came to wear as a laboratory uniform. Marie’s father and sisters, Helena and Bronia, came to the wedding and the joyful reception took place at the Curie home. Afterward, Marie and Pierre set off to Brittany for their honeymoon, bringing their new matching bicycles with them.

"The first years of the Curie marriage were spent working, enjoying dinners with the Physics Society, the occasional trip to the theatre, and riding their beloved bicycles. Unless they were at their separate places of work, Marie and Pierre did everything together. Marie studied for a teaching certificate that would allow her to work in French secondary schools. She also always continued with her own studies.
***

"In the spring of 1897, Marie discovered she was pregnant. Irene Curie was born on September 12, 1897, a healthy 6.6 pounds in weight. Marie hired a wet nurse for Irene and began recording data on Irene’s development in a dedicated notebook. After Irene’s birth, things changed dramatically for the Curies. Marie was now a qualified teacher and worked at the École Normale Supérieure. She also published her first article in the Society for the Encouragement of National Industry on the magnetism of tempered steel. Then, with Pierre’s encouragement, Marie decided it was time she began her own original research in pursuit of a doctorate.

"Curie was intrigued by a recent discovery. Uranium minerals, it seemed, gave off peculiar rays. While the rest of the population indulged in the café culture and lavish entertainments of fin de siècle Paris, Marie stayed in her laboratory. Here, she made it her mission to discover the nature of these uranium rays and their source."
****

"“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

"—Marie Curie"
***

"At the turn of the nineteenth century, Europe was in thrall to the latest scientific and technological sensations. In 1891, electricity came to the streets of Paris and replaced the city’s gas street lamps. The telephone, the motion picture, steam-powered machinery, and indoor plumbing changed the lives of ordinary Parisians. Anything seemed possible, and the atmosphere in what many believed was the most modern city in the world was electric.

"In 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, a German professor, discovered the existence of x-rays. Within a year, several scientists had discovered the nature of these rays; x-rays are electromagnetic rays identical to those that make up visible light, only shorter. In Paris, the scientific community dedicated itself to exploring the possibilities of this discovery. In 1896, one hundred papers were presented to the Academy of Sciences (also known as “the Institute”) on the subject of x-rays.

"Meanwhile, Curie’s attention was drawn to another recently discovered phenomenon—that of uranium rays. She began her research on Becquerel rays, named after the scientist who discovered them, in the winter of 1897. Rather than using the state of the art equipment available to her at the Sorbonne, Curie set up a lab in a storage space on the ground floor of Pierre’s school. Here she could work uninterrupted, without the interference of her professors and with the support of her more experienced husband.
***

"Using sensitive scientific measuring instruments, some of which were devised by Pierre, the Curies set about determining the ionizing power of various elements. Had Marie stayed with elements and not moved on to other impure substances, she may never have made her famous discovery.

"In February 1898, Curie tested a sample of pitchblende. Chemist Martin Heinrich had discovered that pitchblende contained uranium in 1789. But it was Curie who determined that pitchblende contained another radioactive element, something that was able to produce an electrical current four times that of uranium itself. She also tested chalcocite and found similar results. Curie came to the surprising conclusion that she had discovered a mystery element that was far more active than uranium.

"By March, Pierre was so intrigued by his wife’s research that he abandoned his own work on crystals and joined her. There was only one way to prove Marie’s hypothesis. The Curies had to attempt to isolate this new element by chemical means. Marie and Pierre got hold of 100 grams of pitchblende and attacked it with various chemicals. By the end of 1898, the Curies were confident that they could prove the existence of not one but two brand new highly active elements.
***

"Marie offered a brief account of her research to the Institute in April of 1898. In July, the Curies announced their discovery of polonium, a new metal element named after Marie’s country of birth. The Institute took notice of the Curies’ ground-breaking work and awarded Marie the 3,800-franc Prix Gegner. By December, the Curies had announced the discovery of a second element, radium.

"In 1899, Marie set about the formidable task of isolating polonium and radium. She carried out the chemical experiments while Pierre took on the role of physicist and explored the phenomenon of radioactivity. The Curies worked from a hangar at the School of Physics and Chemistry at Sorbonne where Pierre still worked as a professor. The space was large but ill-equipped as a laboratory. There was no hood to carry away poisonous gases caused by Marie’s chemical treatments and the roof let in water when it rained.

"Using ten tons of pitchblende, a by-product of uranium extraction, Marie and Pierre used differential crystallization to separate out radium salt. It took three years, but Marie succeeded in isolating pure radium and establishing a method for doing so later used in industry. With one ton of pitchblende, the Curies could create one-tenth of a gram of radium chloride in 1902. It wasn’t until 1910 that Marie was finally able to isolate pure radium metal. Unfortunately, not long after Marie’s success in the laboratory, she lost her father. She was devastated as she hadn’t been able to return to Warsaw to see him before he died.
***

"Throughout these four years of toil, the Curies published their findings. A total of 32 scientific papers were submitted to the Institute under the Curie name, either as individuals or as a couple. As neither scientist was a member of the Institute at the time, the Curies could not present their findings in person. But in 1900 the Curies presented their research on radioactivity to a gathering of leading scientists at the International Congress of Physics in Paris. Also in 1900, Marie joined the faculty at the École Normale Supérieure. She became the first woman ever to teach at that institution, and Pierre joined the faculty at the Sorbonne. Despite difficult working conditions and constant homesickness, Marie looked back on these years as a happy time.

"At this point, no one knew that radium and polonium could be dangerous. The Curies mailed samples of luminous radium to scientists all over the world, and Marie carried a test tube of radium salts in her pocket. In 1901, Pierre published a paper describing an experiment on radioactive exposure’s effects on the skin. Pierre taped a piece of radioactive barium to his arm and left it there for ten hours. Reporting on the effect of the barium on his skin, he described a burn that worsened over time and took more than two months to heal. The Curies did notice that handling radioactive materials caused inflammation in their hands but thought little of it. The damage, they supposed, was superficial."
****

"“One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.”

"—Marie Curie"
***

"In 1903, Curie finally got around to writing her dissertation which the Sorbonne faculty approved in May. In June, she defended her dissertation in the student’s hall of the Sorbonne. This was a celebratory event with many well-wishing friends and family in attendance. The Curies were then invited to give a speech at the Royal Society in London. The Society did not allow women to speak, ... "

Height of misogyny!

" ... so Pierre took to the stage alone and described the research he and Marie had carried out in depth."

What if, like many other males, he were not so gracious?

How many women had their work simply stolen by males?

"This ....

[Anna Linnea Wass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie Curie är den coolaste personen någonsin!!!!! Läste den för en historieuppsats, men hade lätt kunnat läsa den ändå! Läs läs läs!!!

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a girlboss

[Kitty Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting

I locksmiths book as I knew very little of Marie Curie. I found it to be fascinating and well written. I will definitely 're reading it

[Bettye McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life of dedication to science

Although she was born in Poland, Marie Curie made her home in Paris, and it was there that she made her acclaimed discoveries in science and chemistry. She isolated the X-rays found in radium and studied their properties and uses.

Madame Curie was the recipient of three Nobel Prizes and made history as the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. Although she lost her life to the very thing that made her name immortal, we still benefit from her life's work every day.

3

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marie Curie was accomplished and renowned in her time, but also dealt with the setbacks and exclusions of a xenophobic public and sexist scientific community in Paris. She was a passionate scientist who achieved a great deal in her 66 years.

- Nobel Prize in 1903 (shared with Pierre Curie): study of spontaneous radiation
- Nobel Prize in 1911: discovery of radium and polonium, the isolation of radium, and the study of radium
- One of only four people to win the Nobel prize twice.
- The only person to win the Nobel prize in two different scientific fields (physics and chemistry).
- Invented a mobile x-ray machine (the "petite Curie") to use in war zones during WWI.
- Director of the Radium Institute in Paris, which studied the medical applications of radioactive substances.

"Nothing is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." —Marie Curie

"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful." —Marie Curie

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fascinated by this biography. Marie Curie was the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris, the first woman to win a Nobel prize, the first woman entombed in the Pantheon on her own merits. She was a trail-blazer in the truest sense. The family that Marie and Pierre Curie created includes five Nobel prizes. The first two prizes were awarded to Marie and Pierre together, the third was awarded to Marie alone, the fourth and fifth were awarded to Marie and Pierre's daughter Irene and her husband. All women should read this and get a good look at how women were treated as less than men.

[Patricia S Winchel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Intelligent and Driven

In a time when women were not considered worth educating, and coming from a Polish family with few resources, Maria Curie overcame every obstacle in her path to pursue her dreams. She and her husband, Pierre, then she alone, and then her daughter Irene and husband were awarded 5 Nobel prizes. Pierre was killed in a tragic accident in his early 40's and Marie lived only to age 66 due to the tolls on her health from years of working with radioactive substances. I learned much more than I ever knew about this amazingly talented and determined woman through this short biography.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madam Curie

An innovative women that discovered groundbreaking in physics and chemistry has been an inspiration to generations of women in science (including her daughter). This was a nice short glimpse into the life of the Mother of Science that’s made me want to read her autobiography to learn more about her. Her loving and supportive husband helped her hard work make it to the light of day for the world to benefit from. Pierre was a husband that understood how amazing his wife was, and made efforts to show the world her concurred mountains. Every person needs a supporter and lover like Pierre was to Marie.

[Jim affleck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not withstanding the fact that Marie and Pierre Curie, did not seek financial gain from their scientific research, there is much more to this book than at first may take the eye. This book rightly highlights many feminist issues which remain sadly prevalent today. This is an exceptional read, and can HIGHLY recommend. This book allows each reader to draw conclusions, as to the humanistic personality traits of yet another exceptional scientific genius.

[Tamotha clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie Curie

This is a woman that changed the world of men, women and children in the twenty and twenty first centuries. The First woman to win a Nobel Prize, First women to be a professor's in the University of Paris, First woman to be entombed in the Pantheon on her own merits. Marie, and also Pierre Curie as well as their daughter Irene Curie and her husband created a Legacy for the Curie.

[Neera Kapahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie Curie has always been a fascinating figure. She won the Nobel prize twice. The first one in Physics was shared with her husband Pierre Curie. She won the second in Chemistry.

The book does an excellent job telling us about her dreams, aspirations and determination. One forgets that at that time it was not very easy for a woman to get ahead and be recognized. This is especially true in the scientific field. Her journey was very inspirational.

[New Beginnings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

HH did an excellent job with this book. It was very interesting and covered her life and work in more detail than we normally see. She was an amazing woman who gained world renown for her work. Whether working on her own, with her family members or an institution, she was always both a driver as well as a facilitator. Very good read!

[Willow Rankin · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great brief overview of the life of Marie Curie.
She is a fascinating woman who gave so much to the discovery of science in a world which didnt appreciate the contribution of women.
The book was brief and I feel glossed over certain aspects far too quickly that made some of the narrative confusing.

[Dee Feng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick & interesting read

Very quick and interesting read. I enjoyed it. A feminist, scientist, patriot, mother and daughter. It’s interesting to learn about her personal life as well.

[Henry M. Haskell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. I learned so much from this insightful story of a remarkable w

Woman. These Hourly books are wonderfully written and much better to read than a full length biography. Keep bringing new titles out.

[Starr Olinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative!

I learned a lot about Marie Curie and her life. I found her to be a very interesting person. Marie overcame many obstacles to prove herself and her work. She was a very determined and strong woman for the time.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

As with all Hourly History books, this life story that i just read was concise, chock-full of important highlights(in this case, of Marie Curie's life), and an easy read, considering that this is an ebook, which i can read anywhere. 5 stars!

[☯︎Hanna☯︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative.

I enjoyed the book. It took a little to get through it, but I liked how well composed it was. Everything seemed to be in its place. I will definitely look into reading more in the series!

[Maryann Moffit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story.

Have heard some data on M. Cutie, but this was well-written and quite informative. Never knew about her daughter and the other family,who were all quite intelligent.

[Ed Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Intro To Curie

One of the preeminent scientists of the last 200 years, Marie Curie was a complex, brilliant and driven woman. Born in Poland and educated in France, you’ll learn a lot more in a quick 45 minute read. An interesting perspective.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to Marie Curie

I enjoyed the book as an introduction to the life of Marie Curie. Previously I only knew she discovered radium and died from radiation poisoning. There was much more to her life.

[Julie Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marie Curie: A Life From Beginning to End by Hourly History is a quick history of Madam Curie. It is very interesting and gives a good overview of her life. She was an amazing woman and this is a well written historical collection of her life and work. Well worth the read.

[bruce weldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scientific Genus

This book showed me the genus of Curie that my public education did not. Her long list of “Firsts” is amazing & worthy of much more than this edition gives but this is a good start.
An enjoyable & informative read.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting woman

The short biographical sketch is a good place to start on the life of an amazing woman. Her research into radium opened the door to many things, some good and some not so good. However she was a true scientist.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

a bright light that would not be dimmed.

At a time when women were considered second class citizens, Marie Curie would breakdown all barriers standing in her way and succeed not only in the discovery of Radium, but proofing that women were just as capable as men in the sciences.

[DavidO · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is short and to the point. It gives a brief overview of her life that you can read in about an hour. To be honest, that's roughly how much interest I have. Anything longer tends to get into fine details I couldn't care about. Anything shorter tends to skip too much information.