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The Half-Life of Marie Curie
In 1912, scientist Marie Curie spent two months on the British seaside at the home of Hertha Ayrton, an accomplished mathematician, inventor, and suffragette. At the time, Curie was in the throes of a scandal in France over her affair with Paul Langevin, which threatened to overshadow the accomplishment of her second Nobel Prize.
Performed by Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany, this play by Lauren Gunderson is an ode to two remarkable women who, despite tremendous personal and professional obstacles, continued to devote their lives to scientific innovation and social change.
Playwright Lauren Gunderson was awarded a commission through the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible commissioned playwright, she received funding and creative support to develop The Half-Life of Marie Curie.
Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch
Sound design by Darron L West
Performed by Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany, this play by Lauren Gunderson is an ode to two remarkable women who, despite tremendous personal and professional obstacles, continued to devote their lives to scientific innovation and social change.
Playwright Lauren Gunderson was awarded a commission through the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible commissioned playwright, she received funding and creative support to develop The Half-Life of Marie Curie.
Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch
Sound design by Darron L West
Audible Audio
First published December 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews
August 22, 2020
This is a dramatic presentation, less than an hour and twenty minutes in length, but filled with so much more than I expected in this short listening time. It’s a tribute to two brilliant women, their intellect, their humanity and a friendship one can only hope for in a lifetime. It spoke to me in so many ways. Of course I knew of Marie Curie and her work on radioactivity, but I had never heard of Hertha Aryton. I learned she was a scientist, a mathematician, another brilliant mind of the time. Most of this short play, depicts a period in Marie Curie’s life after Pierre is gone. She has just won a second Nobel prize, but the joy and celebration of its acceptance are marred by the scandal of an affair. Marie and Hertha are women who excel in the world of science, dominated by men and there are some absolutely fabulous lines that tell us so much about these admirable women, mothers, wives, friends, scientists. I have to mention a few.
Hertha Aryton:
“God - the shit we put up with to have a thought.”
“I don’t like the idea of science being heartless. It takes heart to question the nature of things.”
Marie:
“It’s an affair, Gentleman. It’s not contagious.”
“Our life’s passion is proof. Knowing what’s true and proving it.”
Then beyond their private conversations - they speak in lines of their letters of what happened during WWI and their careers afterwards, their children, their continued friendship. So much packed in this sad at times, but lovely, uplifting and inspiring piece. And the voices of Francesca Faridany and Kate Mulgrew - I can still hear them. Kudos to Lauren Gunderson, the playwright. I loved this.
(An Audible Original free with an audible membership, otherwise $7.95)
Thanks to Elyse’s enthusiasm and love for this which told me I had to listen.
Hertha Aryton:
“God - the shit we put up with to have a thought.”
“I don’t like the idea of science being heartless. It takes heart to question the nature of things.”
Marie:
“It’s an affair, Gentleman. It’s not contagious.”
“Our life’s passion is proof. Knowing what’s true and proving it.”
Then beyond their private conversations - they speak in lines of their letters of what happened during WWI and their careers afterwards, their children, their continued friendship. So much packed in this sad at times, but lovely, uplifting and inspiring piece. And the voices of Francesca Faridany and Kate Mulgrew - I can still hear them. Kudos to Lauren Gunderson, the playwright. I loved this.
(An Audible Original free with an audible membership, otherwise $7.95)
Thanks to Elyse’s enthusiasm and love for this which told me I had to listen.
August 20, 2020
ZERO SPOILERS...ZERO CONTENT....
SAFE TO READ ....I’m simply very JAZZED about this audio-performance.
Audiobook....[audible original]....by playwright Lauren Gunderson....
narrated by Kate Mulgrew, and Francesca Fairdany
1 hour long, and 19 minutes
This audiobook was PERFECT....OUTSTANDING...
A SURPRISE....DYNAMITE....MASTERFUL....
.....and MY FIRST TIME LISTENING TO ***AUDIO THEATER***.
THIS IS HOW’S its DONE!!!!
This is how an AUDIOBOOK -LISTENING-EXPERIENCE gains a FINE REPUTATION....in a readers mind.
Beg, borrow, or steal this audiobook....( free for Audible members)....
ITS A GREAT GIFT FOR YOURSELF!
You can hate me - not read my reviews - never ‘like’ my reviews on principle ( me being a complete turd in your mind), dislike me personally......be sick of my enthusiasm....’whatever’....but give this powerful experience to ‘yourself’.
There ‘are’ low reviews...SHOCKING....
but...I’m glad I never read them-until after I listened to this myself. It might have kept me away.
I have Barbara- [Goodreads friend] - to thank for introducing this to me. I immediately downloaded it but never read any other reviews until this very second as I’m writing my own.
....I cried
....I laughed
....I cried and laughed at the same time.
....I’m still so blown away from the artistic magnificent experience...
....The dialogue is fresh, outrageous,real, powerful, raw, emotional, and enlightening.
I thought I knew all there was about Marie Curie. One of our daughters did a school research project about her in school.
WHATEVER YOU THINK THIS AUDIOBOOK is.....
IT’S NOT THAT!!!!.....( well, I suppose)....I WENT IN BLIND. I couldn’t remember what Barbara wrote about the specifics of the book...
I just remember seeing her five stars ...maybe four ...I’ll have to go back and check. I just knew a free hour of my time from Barbara’s endorsement was a risk worth taking.
Paul can’t wait to take his turn. I get to listen again with him.
My suggestion, grab a glass of wine, sit back ...sip & listen.
I listened while walking....but it could also be spiritually,intellectually, and emotionally flavorful sitting still.
It’s just sooooo FRICKEN WONDERFUL- POWERFUL - CREATIVE - and EXPLOSIVE ....
with TWO extraordinary WOMEN...with TWO AWESOME ACCENTS....
I LOVED THE WOMEN’S friendship in this ‘audible original’ ....
I was - envious of their friendships and the women they were in the world - I was deeply moved, uplifted from WHO THEY WERE!!
I want truthful passionate friendships like these two women!
Hell....I even cried in ‘aw’ at the sounds of birds....
The overall INTENSITY was piercing.....
POWERFUL performances behind POWERFUL TRUTHFUL prose!
Love, power, audacity, Mother Nature, science, loss, laughter, tears,....
Another ABSOLUTE AUDIO-FAVORITE!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED...( only 1 hour of your time) ....for both women and men.
SAFE TO READ ....I’m simply very JAZZED about this audio-performance.
Audiobook....[audible original]....by playwright Lauren Gunderson....
narrated by Kate Mulgrew, and Francesca Fairdany
1 hour long, and 19 minutes
This audiobook was PERFECT....OUTSTANDING...
A SURPRISE....DYNAMITE....MASTERFUL....
.....and MY FIRST TIME LISTENING TO ***AUDIO THEATER***.
THIS IS HOW’S its DONE!!!!
This is how an AUDIOBOOK -LISTENING-EXPERIENCE gains a FINE REPUTATION....in a readers mind.
Beg, borrow, or steal this audiobook....( free for Audible members)....
ITS A GREAT GIFT FOR YOURSELF!
You can hate me - not read my reviews - never ‘like’ my reviews on principle ( me being a complete turd in your mind), dislike me personally......be sick of my enthusiasm....’whatever’....but give this powerful experience to ‘yourself’.
There ‘are’ low reviews...SHOCKING....
but...I’m glad I never read them-until after I listened to this myself. It might have kept me away.
I have Barbara- [Goodreads friend] - to thank for introducing this to me. I immediately downloaded it but never read any other reviews until this very second as I’m writing my own.
....I cried
....I laughed
....I cried and laughed at the same time.
....I’m still so blown away from the artistic magnificent experience...
....The dialogue is fresh, outrageous,real, powerful, raw, emotional, and enlightening.
I thought I knew all there was about Marie Curie. One of our daughters did a school research project about her in school.
WHATEVER YOU THINK THIS AUDIOBOOK is.....
IT’S NOT THAT!!!!.....( well, I suppose)....I WENT IN BLIND. I couldn’t remember what Barbara wrote about the specifics of the book...
I just remember seeing her five stars ...maybe four ...I’ll have to go back and check. I just knew a free hour of my time from Barbara’s endorsement was a risk worth taking.
Paul can’t wait to take his turn. I get to listen again with him.
My suggestion, grab a glass of wine, sit back ...sip & listen.
I listened while walking....but it could also be spiritually,intellectually, and emotionally flavorful sitting still.
It’s just sooooo FRICKEN WONDERFUL- POWERFUL - CREATIVE - and EXPLOSIVE ....
with TWO extraordinary WOMEN...with TWO AWESOME ACCENTS....
I LOVED THE WOMEN’S friendship in this ‘audible original’ ....
I was - envious of their friendships and the women they were in the world - I was deeply moved, uplifted from WHO THEY WERE!!
I want truthful passionate friendships like these two women!
Hell....I even cried in ‘aw’ at the sounds of birds....
The overall INTENSITY was piercing.....
POWERFUL performances behind POWERFUL TRUTHFUL prose!
Love, power, audacity, Mother Nature, science, loss, laughter, tears,....
Another ABSOLUTE AUDIO-FAVORITE!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED...( only 1 hour of your time) ....for both women and men.
March 22, 2020
Beautiful story. I realized that I’ve never read a book about Marie Curie before. I’ve got to find one. This certainly whetted my appetite.
August 12, 2020
Another outstanding audible original production! “The Half-Life of Marie Curie” by Lauren Gunderson, performed by Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany provides a glimpse at the astounding lives of Madame Curie and Hertha Ayrton. Ms. Ayrton was a mathematician, suffragette, and inventor. Both women were key to social change. I was not aware of Madame Curie’s love life and how fellow male scientist demeaned her work because of her scandalous affair.
This gem is only a bit over one hour, but it’s packed with interesting information about these incredible women. It certainly is worth one’s time to learn more about these fascinating women.
This gem is only a bit over one hour, but it’s packed with interesting information about these incredible women. It certainly is worth one’s time to learn more about these fascinating women.
January 6, 2020
3.5 stars
Mari Curie was not only famous for her Nobel prizes but also her scandalous affair with a married man. The story focuses on her getting to grips with how she was shunned and vilified after the story broke and how she picked the pieces of her life with the help of her dear (and similarly accomplished) friend Hertha Ayrton.
The second part of the book focused on both women’s lives after that summer and boy what interesting lives they lived.
The way the story was told in the 2nd half was much better than the 1st half. So if like me you got this and was not wowed by the first bit, just stick with it, it really gets much better.
I also really enjoyed the way the friendship between the two women were portrayed - women who in most part had to work in isolation in the male dominated world of science.
This was one of the Free Audible Original picks for December and the audio narrators did a stellar job.
Mari Curie was not only famous for her Nobel prizes but also her scandalous affair with a married man. The story focuses on her getting to grips with how she was shunned and vilified after the story broke and how she picked the pieces of her life with the help of her dear (and similarly accomplished) friend Hertha Ayrton.
The second part of the book focused on both women’s lives after that summer and boy what interesting lives they lived.
The way the story was told in the 2nd half was much better than the 1st half. So if like me you got this and was not wowed by the first bit, just stick with it, it really gets much better.
I also really enjoyed the way the friendship between the two women were portrayed - women who in most part had to work in isolation in the male dominated world of science.
This was one of the Free Audible Original picks for December and the audio narrators did a stellar job.
December 22, 2019
Marie Curie was a scientist of tremendous accomplishments at a time when it was much harder than now for women to have careers in science at all. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the person, and one of only two to this point, to win two Nobels in different scientific fields. Her 1903 Nobel, with her husband Pierre, and Henri Becquerel, was in physics. Pierre Curie died in a road accident in 1906, and Marie Curie continued her research alone. In 1911, she won a second Nobel, in chemistry. That happened in the midst of a huge scandal over her affair with Paul Langevin, a married man estranged from his wife.
She stayed out of the public eye for most of that year, except for going to Sweden to accept her second Nobel Prize. However she did spend time in England with a friend, the mathematician, physicist, inventor, and suffragist, Hertha Ayrton. This audio play is about that visit, their friendship, and the friendship of two strong, intelligent, women who pursued careers in science at a time when women in most of what we would consider advanced countries couldn't even vote, and certainly weren't expected to pursue careers relying on intellectual ability.
It's fascinating look at the two women, presented entirely in the voices of two actors, Francesca Faridany and Kate Mulgrew, playing the two scientists. We get a sense of their lives, their personalities, their accomplishments, and the challenges of pursuing their careers and getting proper recognition for their work. I very much enjoyed listening to this.
Recommended.
I got this as part of the Audible Original program and am reviewing it voluntarily.
She stayed out of the public eye for most of that year, except for going to Sweden to accept her second Nobel Prize. However she did spend time in England with a friend, the mathematician, physicist, inventor, and suffragist, Hertha Ayrton. This audio play is about that visit, their friendship, and the friendship of two strong, intelligent, women who pursued careers in science at a time when women in most of what we would consider advanced countries couldn't even vote, and certainly weren't expected to pursue careers relying on intellectual ability.
It's fascinating look at the two women, presented entirely in the voices of two actors, Francesca Faridany and Kate Mulgrew, playing the two scientists. We get a sense of their lives, their personalities, their accomplishments, and the challenges of pursuing their careers and getting proper recognition for their work. I very much enjoyed listening to this.
Recommended.
I got this as part of the Audible Original program and am reviewing it voluntarily.
August 24, 2020
5★
Way more than I was expecting and a fabulous production. More than a short story, more like listening to a short play. Bravo!
Way more than I was expecting and a fabulous production. More than a short story, more like listening to a short play. Bravo!
September 18, 2020
This is an Audible production of a play written by Lauren Gunderson. It has been performed by Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany at the Minetta Lane Theatre. What is delivered here is vocal drama. All that is to be conveyed must be made evident vocally since we cannot with our eyes watch what is happening. Each performed their respective part convincingly The audio narration I have given three stars.
I personally prefer to see drama, to have it there in front of me on stage. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed this. The performance is well executed. I prefer less melodrama, but how else does one convey emotions when one has only words, sounds and a short amount of time? The lines are good. The sound effects are plentiful. We hear waves and birds and jostling crowds. Sobbing and an argument played out through shouts, swear words and exclamations. Never does one forget that this is drama.
In 1912, Marie Curie, physicist, chemist and pioneer of radiation, spent two months at the home of Hertha Ayrton, a close friend. Both being accomplished scientists, they had much in common.
Ayrton was an inventor, mathematician and engineer working with particle and fluid dynamics. Interested in the electromechanics of arch lighting, she had recently succeeded in removing the annoying hiss of such lighting. She was also a strong suffragette.
Curie, her husband now dead, had recently been awarded a second Nobel Prize. Caught up in an affair with a married man, Paul Langevin, she had been discretely advised to not attend the award ceremony in person. The love affair had become an international scandal.
For Ayrton the true scandal lay in the fact that men’s adulterous behavior is accepted, while for women it is not! When the two women meet, much of their talk revolves around the discrimination of women in science and society as a whole.
The women’s strong friendship is heartwarming portrayed, but I found it rather exaggerated that these two scientists spent most of the time complaining about men. An excessive use of swear words, I also find exaggerated.
Marie does go to the ceremony and pick up the award. After the visit, a rapid summary of the women’s lives is delivered. History in a nutshell.
The focus is primarily the strong friendship between Marie Curie and Hertha Ayron, one woman helping another. This is well portrayed. There is no woman who will not empathize with the two.
I like this line: “Proof is clear. Recognition is political.”
************************
*Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie 4 stars
*The Half-Life of Marie Curie 3 stars
I personally prefer to see drama, to have it there in front of me on stage. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed this. The performance is well executed. I prefer less melodrama, but how else does one convey emotions when one has only words, sounds and a short amount of time? The lines are good. The sound effects are plentiful. We hear waves and birds and jostling crowds. Sobbing and an argument played out through shouts, swear words and exclamations. Never does one forget that this is drama.
In 1912, Marie Curie, physicist, chemist and pioneer of radiation, spent two months at the home of Hertha Ayrton, a close friend. Both being accomplished scientists, they had much in common.
Ayrton was an inventor, mathematician and engineer working with particle and fluid dynamics. Interested in the electromechanics of arch lighting, she had recently succeeded in removing the annoying hiss of such lighting. She was also a strong suffragette.
Curie, her husband now dead, had recently been awarded a second Nobel Prize. Caught up in an affair with a married man, Paul Langevin, she had been discretely advised to not attend the award ceremony in person. The love affair had become an international scandal.
For Ayrton the true scandal lay in the fact that men’s adulterous behavior is accepted, while for women it is not! When the two women meet, much of their talk revolves around the discrimination of women in science and society as a whole.
The women’s strong friendship is heartwarming portrayed, but I found it rather exaggerated that these two scientists spent most of the time complaining about men. An excessive use of swear words, I also find exaggerated.
Marie does go to the ceremony and pick up the award. After the visit, a rapid summary of the women’s lives is delivered. History in a nutshell.
The focus is primarily the strong friendship between Marie Curie and Hertha Ayron, one woman helping another. This is well portrayed. There is no woman who will not empathize with the two.
I like this line: “Proof is clear. Recognition is political.”
************************
*Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie 4 stars
*The Half-Life of Marie Curie 3 stars
June 22, 2020
The Half-Life of Marie Curie
By: Lauren Gunderson
Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew, Francesca Faridany
This is such a great play! It's a story of two friends that are both scientists, widows, and mothers. It follows them throughout the years through rough times, trials, happy times, and on until the end. In such a short time, the story made me feel their bond and felt part of it. One was fighting for women's rights, then they both worried about the war, both helped in the war effects, and both died too soon. A very touching story. I never would have thought about Curie this way, or her friend, if it hadn't been for this performance! Wonderful job!
By: Lauren Gunderson
Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew, Francesca Faridany
This is such a great play! It's a story of two friends that are both scientists, widows, and mothers. It follows them throughout the years through rough times, trials, happy times, and on until the end. In such a short time, the story made me feel their bond and felt part of it. One was fighting for women's rights, then they both worried about the war, both helped in the war effects, and both died too soon. A very touching story. I never would have thought about Curie this way, or her friend, if it hadn't been for this performance! Wonderful job!
May 19, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. An audible original play about Marie Curie and Hertha Ayrton. Although the narration by Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany were exceptionally well done, I wasn't hooked immediately. Not too worry though, by the end I was sobbing like a baby.
This is a play about two brilliant women and their achievements, but it is also about them being human and most of all this is a play about true female friendship. I loved that they could be supportive, rude, bossy, funny and loving with each other.
This made me realize how blessed I am to have so many amazing female friends in my life. It also reinforced the need to read a full length historical fiction title about Marie Curie.
This is a play about two brilliant women and their achievements, but it is also about them being human and most of all this is a play about true female friendship. I loved that they could be supportive, rude, bossy, funny and loving with each other.
This made me realize how blessed I am to have so many amazing female friends in my life. It also reinforced the need to read a full length historical fiction title about Marie Curie.
December 21, 2019
I got this free as one of my monthly Audible Originals. Two women perform the reenactment and they do a great job. It's short, but enjoyable.
October 8, 2020
I added this one a short time ago, after reading Elyse’s review, which was enthusiastic, and then Angela’s, which made me even more sure it would work for me. Still, I was surprised by how quickly I was pulled into this play, which I loved from the start. Narrated by Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany added so much to this story, for me. I knew I recognized Kate Mulgrew’s voice right away, but couldn’t place the ‘who’ part of it, with the accent it sounded a bit like Dame Maggie Smith of Downton Abbey fame, among others.
Hertha Ayrton was a suffragette, inventor, as well as being a mathematician of note. Over time, Marie Curie and Hertha Ayrton had become friends, having met years before this story begins, and end up spending time together seaside, Ayrton trying to help as her friend was involved in a scandal at the time.
I loved this, and highly recommend it to others, it’s well worth the hour and twenty minutes of your time.
Elyse’s Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Angela’s Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 2, 2020
Wow. That was fantastic. I know Audible is basically a branch of Evil-Inc., but those two incredible women performing as those two incredible women... Anyway. Wow. (Coherent thoughts another day, when I'm not trying to warm up after a long walk with the husky).
January 2, 2020
Reposting after the deletion of 12 Audible Originals Dec. 17-18, 2019.
Goodreads purged about 12 (that I could identify) Audible Original audiobooks at the end of the year 2019 as they apparently did not meet guidelines. Those audiobooks that have been converted from podcasts are apparently the main issue. Others that are short novellas, memoirs or audio productions of theatrical plays do not seem justified, but appeals may have no success. This current edition of The Half-Life of Marie Curie is still available, but another version is now gone. This one may disappear as well, but appeals are in process via GR Customer Help.
Marie Curie, a More Interesting Year*
Review of the Audible Original audiobook edition (Dec. 5, 2019) of the currently running (until Dec. 22, 2019) stage play The Half-Life of Marie Curie
The Half-Life of Marie Curie dramatizes a true-life episode from Marie Curie's (1867-1934) life in the summer of 1912 when she was being vilified by French society as the other woman in an affair with her deceased husband Pierre Curie's student Paul Langevin. She is invited to England to spend time with her friend Hertha Ayrton (1854-1923) to escape the stress of the situation. The retreat provides an opportunity for them to discuss their struggles as women and scientists in years when Ayrton could not even be given a degree by Cambridge University and Pierre Curie had to lobby in order to share the first Nobel Prize with Marie in 1903. The title Half-Life alludes to the radioactivity exposure that would eventually lead to Marie's death, but also to this turning point in her life.
The performances by Francesca Faridany and Kate Mulgrew were excellent in the dual leads. The performance was recorded under studio conditions without audience ambiance but with full stage foley and sound cues. Faridany performs Curie with a French accent, which most people would probably expect and accept. In real-life she probably had more of a Polish accent though.
The Half-Life of Marie Curie was one of the free Audible Originals for members for the month of December 2019. Playwright Lauren Gunderson was one of the initial group of 15 chosen for Audible Emerging Playwrights commissions in 2017, several of which have already appeared as Audible Original audiobooks.
*I couldn't resist this lede after the disappointment of the Audible Original A Mind of Her Own from March 2019.
See a photo from the stage production at
Photo of Francesca Faridany as Marie Curie (left) and Kate Mulgrew as Hertha Ayrton (right) by Joan Marcus, linked from Playbill
Goodreads purged about 12 (that I could identify) Audible Original audiobooks at the end of the year 2019 as they apparently did not meet guidelines. Those audiobooks that have been converted from podcasts are apparently the main issue. Others that are short novellas, memoirs or audio productions of theatrical plays do not seem justified, but appeals may have no success. This current edition of The Half-Life of Marie Curie is still available, but another version is now gone. This one may disappear as well, but appeals are in process via GR Customer Help.
Marie Curie, a More Interesting Year*
Review of the Audible Original audiobook edition (Dec. 5, 2019) of the currently running (until Dec. 22, 2019) stage play The Half-Life of Marie Curie
The Half-Life of Marie Curie dramatizes a true-life episode from Marie Curie's (1867-1934) life in the summer of 1912 when she was being vilified by French society as the other woman in an affair with her deceased husband Pierre Curie's student Paul Langevin. She is invited to England to spend time with her friend Hertha Ayrton (1854-1923) to escape the stress of the situation. The retreat provides an opportunity for them to discuss their struggles as women and scientists in years when Ayrton could not even be given a degree by Cambridge University and Pierre Curie had to lobby in order to share the first Nobel Prize with Marie in 1903. The title Half-Life alludes to the radioactivity exposure that would eventually lead to Marie's death, but also to this turning point in her life.
The performances by Francesca Faridany and Kate Mulgrew were excellent in the dual leads. The performance was recorded under studio conditions without audience ambiance but with full stage foley and sound cues. Faridany performs Curie with a French accent, which most people would probably expect and accept. In real-life she probably had more of a Polish accent though.
The Half-Life of Marie Curie was one of the free Audible Originals for members for the month of December 2019. Playwright Lauren Gunderson was one of the initial group of 15 chosen for Audible Emerging Playwrights commissions in 2017, several of which have already appeared as Audible Original audiobooks.
*I couldn't resist this lede after the disappointment of the Audible Original A Mind of Her Own from March 2019.
See a photo from the stage production at
Photo of Francesca Faridany as Marie Curie (left) and Kate Mulgrew as Hertha Ayrton (right) by Joan Marcus, linked from Playbill
December 18, 2019
The narration was absolutely amazing, but the story was way too childish for my taste.
February 18, 2020
4.5 stars
August 24, 2020
Fabulous! Just listen to it!
Here is a link to my friend Angela's marvelous review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Here is a link to my friend Angela's marvelous review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
December 30, 2021
This is FABULOUS and only an hour and 19 minutes. The writing is great and both actors are terrific. Kate Mulgrew had me laughing out loud! Not lesfic, but a snapshot of an amazing friendship between two ingenious women. I got it free on Audible many moons ago and finally listened! I think it's free to Audible subscribers. I highly recommend this!
May 28, 2020
Bir audio kitab bu qədərmi gözəl olar? Əsl aktrisalar tərəfindən səsləndirilən, süjet xətti zəngin və sanki filmdəymişsiniz kimi, arxa fondakı qatar səsi, stəkan toqquşdurulması və s. VOİLA! Əsl rejissory işi.
Cəmi 1 saat 20 dəqiqəlik bu gözəl audio kitab Meri Kuri və onun yaxın dostu Hertha Ayrtonun qadınlıq, cəsurluq, inam, ailə və bir sıra dəyərlər haqqında maraqlı müzakirələrini və Merinin yenidən həyata tutunma mübarizəsindən bəhs edir. Kaş qələm olaydı da, bir çox yerlərini işarətləyəydim o söhbətlərin, son dəqiqələrdə göz yaşlarımı tuta bilmirdim. İndi Meri Kuri haqqında filmdə də baxa bilərəm!
Cəmi 1 saat 20 dəqiqəlik bu gözəl audio kitab Meri Kuri və onun yaxın dostu Hertha Ayrtonun qadınlıq, cəsurluq, inam, ailə və bir sıra dəyərlər haqqında maraqlı müzakirələrini və Merinin yenidən həyata tutunma mübarizəsindən bəhs edir. Kaş qələm olaydı da, bir çox yerlərini işarətləyəydim o söhbətlərin, son dəqiqələrdə göz yaşlarımı tuta bilmirdim. İndi Meri Kuri haqqında filmdə də baxa bilərəm!
July 16, 2020
I have never enjoyed audiobooks much. Maybe because I was trying to fall asleep and they demanded attention. But on a solitary night walk on a somewhat pleasant and very clear London night, I discovered the joy and that too through a story of two women scientists, one whose work I had studied in detail and one whose name I had just learnt.
I was hooked from the moment the piano sounds started, the first 6-7 scenes were especially good. The final scenes till 13 were a bit dramatic and I felt watching a show would be more fulfilling in those parts than just listening to them.
I also don’t know if Marie Curie was this dramatic. It seemed and was an outsider’s dramatisation than what reality could have been (maybe!). I know more of her science than her, but this audiobook definitely raised my interest and is paving a way to knowing of her more.
I give it 3 stars for the story and 4 for performances, so 3.5 raised up to 4.
Happy reading! :)
I was hooked from the moment the piano sounds started, the first 6-7 scenes were especially good. The final scenes till 13 were a bit dramatic and I felt watching a show would be more fulfilling in those parts than just listening to them.
I also don’t know if Marie Curie was this dramatic. It seemed and was an outsider’s dramatisation than what reality could have been (maybe!). I know more of her science than her, but this audiobook definitely raised my interest and is paving a way to knowing of her more.
I give it 3 stars for the story and 4 for performances, so 3.5 raised up to 4.
Happy reading! :)
October 26, 2022
An interesting audio presentation about a short period in Marie Curie’s life. Kate Mulgrew was wonderful as the secondary character, Hertha Ayerton (a fellow scientist and a suffragette).
February 27, 2020
I didn't care for the story. It's short, the actors were good but it was dull, and I don't get this stupid trend of people saying "they don't believe in God" quite so proudly... that's nothing to be proud of, especially as a scientist. Galileo himself wrote, "Science did not undermine the existence of God, but rather reinforced it." He wrote once that when he looked through his telescope at the spinning plants, he could hear God's voice in the music of the spheres. He held that science and religion were not enemies, but rather allies - two different languages telling the same story.
It's funny how the jews always find their way around successful people.
It's funny how the jews always find their way around successful people.
December 19, 2019
For me a two-star review means it’s not the worst book I’ve ever read but it didn’t thrill me. Again, just might not be for me right now.
The main problem I had with this story was the language. It's only 1 hour and 19 minutes long and in that brief time I heard so much profanity that I almost turned it off. The thing that kept me going though was the depiction of the friendship between Marie Curie and Hertha Ayrton. Hertha was there for Marie when her life started to unravel. She encouraged Marie, they fought, made up, and cared for each other in a beautiful way.
The best thing about this story is that it's very short.
The main problem I had with this story was the language. It's only 1 hour and 19 minutes long and in that brief time I heard so much profanity that I almost turned it off. The thing that kept me going though was the depiction of the friendship between Marie Curie and Hertha Ayrton. Hertha was there for Marie when her life started to unravel. She encouraged Marie, they fought, made up, and cared for each other in a beautiful way.
The best thing about this story is that it's very short.
April 11, 2021
This Audible audiobook is all about the two woman conversation about their life. I had no ideas about the personal life of Marie Curie before this audiobook. It gave an exciting inside about her as a woman and how she, her friend, and after all her daughters dealt with the pressure of the society of the time they have lived.
February 21, 2020
Another brilliant audible production. They were remarkable woman!
December 23, 2019
I loved this! I’d never heard of Hertha Ayrton, but she sounds freakin’ awesome. My next job will be to find a decent biography of her life.
This short audio play takes Curie’s notorious affair with a younger, married scientist as its inciting incident and uses that to examine the unreal expectations placed on all women, especially accomplished, talented women. Both Hertha and Marie suffer the same struggles as many women today - the fight to be taken seriously in their careers, the challenge of balancing those careers with motherhood, and finally, the longing to be allowed to be real, imperfect women with tempers and bad habits and even (gasp!) lovers.
I read many reviews objecting to Francesca Faridany’s bad French accent, particularly in light of the fact Curie was Polish by birth. But surely that was the point of the accent? To convey her voice as a confused blend of her native and adopted tongues? At any rate, the accent didn’t bother me at all.
This short audio play takes Curie’s notorious affair with a younger, married scientist as its inciting incident and uses that to examine the unreal expectations placed on all women, especially accomplished, talented women. Both Hertha and Marie suffer the same struggles as many women today - the fight to be taken seriously in their careers, the challenge of balancing those careers with motherhood, and finally, the longing to be allowed to be real, imperfect women with tempers and bad habits and even (gasp!) lovers.
I read many reviews objecting to Francesca Faridany’s bad French accent, particularly in light of the fact Curie was Polish by birth. But surely that was the point of the accent? To convey her voice as a confused blend of her native and adopted tongues? At any rate, the accent didn’t bother me at all.
December 20, 2019
This was a decent play. I'm not sure if the feminist viewpoints expressed were so heavy handed because the characters who held them were extremely outspoken or if it's because the playwright was trying to get a point across. Regardless, it's the story of Marie Curie and Hertha Ayerton and their friendship as Marie's life begins to unravel in the public eye. They are good friends and the play brings this out clearly, but the story never goes very deep. There are some melodramatic moments, including an emotionally wrought poem, and although I felt bad for Marie's situation initially, I didn't feel connected to the characters and, in the end, didn't really care. All that being said, the story was interesting enough for me to want to read biographies of both of these pioneering women.
January 2, 2020
This was one of the free Audible Originals I chose in December 2019. I admire Marie Curie - quite a feat for a woman to be awarded two Nobel prizes in two different hard sciences. This play provides a peak into her personal life. It tells about her friendship with Hertha Ayrton, another female scientist about whom I knew nothing but definitely sounds like I should. I enjoyed the play and thought the women playing Curie and Ayrton did a good job. I would now like to see the play.
January 5, 2020
It was interesting to listen to, but I didn't really understand why the book/play had to be framed as part of the scandal of Marie Curie with a married man. I mean they did talk about the things that she and Hertha Ayrton did - and contributed and invented, but why isn't that enough to get people interested in the story - why does it have to be about the scandal (which in all honesty I didn't know anything about. ) but overall it was enjoyable to listen to and I learned a bit of new things.
January 10, 2020
Surprisingly good. I learned a lot.
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