What do you think?
Rate this book
Radiant: The Dancer, The Scientist, and a Friendship Forged in Light
Part hidden history, part love letter to creative innovation, this is the "imaginative and immersive" ( The Star Tribune ) true story of an unlikely friendship between a dancer, Loie Fuller, and a scientist, Marie Curie, brought together by an illuminating discovery.
At the turn of the century, Paris was a hotbed of creativity. Technology boomed, delivering to the world electric light, the automobile, and new ways to treat disease, while imagination blossomed, creating Art Nouveau, motion pictures, and modernist literature. A pivotal figure during this time, yet largely forgotten today, Loie Fuller was an American performance artist who became a living symbol of the Art Nouveau movement with her hypnotic dances and stunning theatrical effects. Credited today as the pioneer of modern dance, she was perennially broke, never took no for an answer, spent most of her life with a female partner, and never questioned her drive. She was a visionary, a renegade, and a loyal friend.
In the early 1900s, she heard about Marie Curie's discovery of a glowing blue element and dreamed of using it to dazzle audiences on stage. While Loie's dream wouldn't be realized, her connection with Marie and their shared fascination with radium endured. Radiant is the true story of Marie Curie and Loie Fuller, two revolutionary women drawn together at the dawn of a new era by a singular discovery, and the lifelong friendship that grew out of their shared passion for enlightenment.
At the turn of the century, Paris was a hotbed of creativity. Technology boomed, delivering to the world electric light, the automobile, and new ways to treat disease, while imagination blossomed, creating Art Nouveau, motion pictures, and modernist literature. A pivotal figure during this time, yet largely forgotten today, Loie Fuller was an American performance artist who became a living symbol of the Art Nouveau movement with her hypnotic dances and stunning theatrical effects. Credited today as the pioneer of modern dance, she was perennially broke, never took no for an answer, spent most of her life with a female partner, and never questioned her drive. She was a visionary, a renegade, and a loyal friend.
In the early 1900s, she heard about Marie Curie's discovery of a glowing blue element and dreamed of using it to dazzle audiences on stage. While Loie's dream wouldn't be realized, her connection with Marie and their shared fascination with radium endured. Radiant is the true story of Marie Curie and Loie Fuller, two revolutionary women drawn together at the dawn of a new era by a singular discovery, and the lifelong friendship that grew out of their shared passion for enlightenment.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2021
59 people are currently reading
3246 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 23, 2021
A fresh and lovely dual biography of two extraordinary women who met at the intersection of science and art in the singular landscape of Belle Époque Paris.
Marie Curie's story is the better known: an immigrant scholar from Poland who transformed chemistry, medicine, and physics with her discoveries of core elements, including radium, and presented the world with the weighty legacy of radioactivity.
Loïe Fuller was famous in her day, but her star faded as the decades passed and other more appealing celebrities took her place. Loïe was an American dancer who settled in Paris as a young woman, where her eccentricities were more readily embraced. She became renowned for her innovative choreography, which incorporated lighting and flowing fabrics, both of which she designed. She patented dozens of inventions, all as a self-taught explorer of chemistry and physics, using art to discover scientific principles, and her stage lighting techniques transformed modern theatrical and dance productions. Along the way, she collected admirers of her work- Auguste Rodin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Auguste and Louis Lumière, Stéphane Mallarmé and Queen Marie of Romania.
But it is her special friendship with Marie Curie that Liz Heinecke gracefully and deftly conjures here. Through extensive reading and research of Curie's and Fuller's memoirs, journals and correspondence, as well as those of their close contemporaries and family members, Heinecke dramatizes their lives to create a story of two pioneering women who would not be bound by the conventions of society. Curie was dismissed time and again by the male-controlled worlds of academics and media, which simply could not believe that a woman would be capable of scientific discovery and innovation. Fuller had an easier time as an artist, but even she had her innovations appropriated or disregarded by men.
This is a fascinating, wonderfully written book, rich with details of its time and place, when artists and innovators, free spirits and agitators found relative freedom in the ripe peach of Paris prior to World War I and just between the wars. Absorbing and luminous. Highly recommended.
Marie Curie's story is the better known: an immigrant scholar from Poland who transformed chemistry, medicine, and physics with her discoveries of core elements, including radium, and presented the world with the weighty legacy of radioactivity.
Loïe Fuller was famous in her day, but her star faded as the decades passed and other more appealing celebrities took her place. Loïe was an American dancer who settled in Paris as a young woman, where her eccentricities were more readily embraced. She became renowned for her innovative choreography, which incorporated lighting and flowing fabrics, both of which she designed. She patented dozens of inventions, all as a self-taught explorer of chemistry and physics, using art to discover scientific principles, and her stage lighting techniques transformed modern theatrical and dance productions. Along the way, she collected admirers of her work- Auguste Rodin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Auguste and Louis Lumière, Stéphane Mallarmé and Queen Marie of Romania.
But it is her special friendship with Marie Curie that Liz Heinecke gracefully and deftly conjures here. Through extensive reading and research of Curie's and Fuller's memoirs, journals and correspondence, as well as those of their close contemporaries and family members, Heinecke dramatizes their lives to create a story of two pioneering women who would not be bound by the conventions of society. Curie was dismissed time and again by the male-controlled worlds of academics and media, which simply could not believe that a woman would be capable of scientific discovery and innovation. Fuller had an easier time as an artist, but even she had her innovations appropriated or disregarded by men.
This is a fascinating, wonderfully written book, rich with details of its time and place, when artists and innovators, free spirits and agitators found relative freedom in the ripe peach of Paris prior to World War I and just between the wars. Absorbing and luminous. Highly recommended.
September 14, 2020
The author calls this "creative non-fiction," meaning it is partially the relating of facts and partly dramatic scenes where she has made up the dialogue. She mentions at the beginning that she has read Madame Curie: A Biography,a book I recently reviewed, and having read it myself many times, I recognized lots of material just about bodily lifted from that book. Not plagiarism, but clearly adapted from Eve Curie's book.
If Heinecke had just done this with Loie Fuller, I might have liked this more. Fuller is so unknown and had such an interesting life. Whereas the facts about Marie Curie are well known. Using her as a co-star is awkward, and what Heinecke invents for her doesn't always match well with what is known.
P.S. There is a recent,apparently unrelated to this book movie called "Radiant," also about Marie Curie which messes up the facts even more than this book does, AND adds a hokey mystic element. Loie Fuller is featured in that as well.
If Heinecke had just done this with Loie Fuller, I might have liked this more. Fuller is so unknown and had such an interesting life. Whereas the facts about Marie Curie are well known. Using her as a co-star is awkward, and what Heinecke invents for her doesn't always match well with what is known.
P.S. There is a recent,apparently unrelated to this book movie called "Radiant," also about Marie Curie which messes up the facts even more than this book does, AND adds a hokey mystic element. Loie Fuller is featured in that as well.
September 15, 2020
First, a caveat: I am the author’s cousin. However, my mother was a librarian, and I was an English teacher for 38 years, and what I have to say is in light of those experiences, as well as my knowledge of Liz's research as she wrote this book.
Liz worked two years on this and did extensive research, to the point of going to France to delve as deeply as she could to create an accurate picture of both Fuller and Curie. Her bibliography alone is a force with which to be reckoned (after saying I was an English teacher, I just can’t use the more common “force to be reckoned with” and end a sentence with a preposition)!
The connection between Marie Curie and Loie Fuller and their support of one another is one of the most intriguing parts of this book. Both were “radiant” in their own way and paved the way for more respect for women in both science and the arts during a time not given to thinking about women as anything other than as wives and mothers. It is a natural fit to connect these two in the book, especially in light of their long, on-going friendship. What better way to enlighten the reading audience about two such brilliant women? Liz’s ability to create dialogue for this book of narrative non-fiction is admirable; she does this with the utmost care and attention to the truth. Although non-fiction is not my favorite genre, I found the the dialogue livened up the material, helped me picture the scenes, and captured my attention in a way much non-fiction does not do for me.
I heartily recommend this book to those who are interested in science, biography, and life - to fiction and non-fiction lovers alike.
Liz worked two years on this and did extensive research, to the point of going to France to delve as deeply as she could to create an accurate picture of both Fuller and Curie. Her bibliography alone is a force with which to be reckoned (after saying I was an English teacher, I just can’t use the more common “force to be reckoned with” and end a sentence with a preposition)!
The connection between Marie Curie and Loie Fuller and their support of one another is one of the most intriguing parts of this book. Both were “radiant” in their own way and paved the way for more respect for women in both science and the arts during a time not given to thinking about women as anything other than as wives and mothers. It is a natural fit to connect these two in the book, especially in light of their long, on-going friendship. What better way to enlighten the reading audience about two such brilliant women? Liz’s ability to create dialogue for this book of narrative non-fiction is admirable; she does this with the utmost care and attention to the truth. Although non-fiction is not my favorite genre, I found the the dialogue livened up the material, helped me picture the scenes, and captured my attention in a way much non-fiction does not do for me.
I heartily recommend this book to those who are interested in science, biography, and life - to fiction and non-fiction lovers alike.
October 2, 2023
When I was a kid, I loved reading biographies about famous women: Amelia Earhart, Clara Barton, Marie Curie, etc.
Radiant is about Marie Curie and a dancer I'd never heard of, Loie Fuller. These two women developed a lasting cooperative friendship and both broke barriers in early 20th century Paris.
The author of this arresting story runs an online educational platform for kids. She posts science related activities that can be done in the kitchen. She has a master's in bacteriology and has worked as a scientific researcher. It turns out she is also a skilled historical researcher.
Thus, Radiant is well-grounded in facts and in the scientific advances made by her dual subjects. She created dialogue between them from reading their letters. This is called creative nonfiction. I was impressed by how smoothly Liz Heinecke melded all this together.
I read the book for a reading group. Some of the members felt the writing was too juvenile. But when I was a young adult struggling to pass my science courses, I would have loved reading about the challenges these two women faced and overcame. Since I still struggle with scientific concepts, I loved the book now!
Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for science, ever. In fact she won two of them plus raised two daughters in Paris while spending hours in her lab. She had the support of Pierre, her husband, but still did all the cooking, etc. Loie Fuller advanced live dance performance with her incredible radium painted costumes, radium which she procured from Marie. She had the support of her longtime female partner. Marie and Loie maintained their friendship for decades.
I also loved how the book incorporates the scientists, artists and performers of the time. Both of these women were tough as nails and managed to get around when life was about one thousand times more inconvenient than today.
A great story of female friendship and mutual support.
Radiant is about Marie Curie and a dancer I'd never heard of, Loie Fuller. These two women developed a lasting cooperative friendship and both broke barriers in early 20th century Paris.
The author of this arresting story runs an online educational platform for kids. She posts science related activities that can be done in the kitchen. She has a master's in bacteriology and has worked as a scientific researcher. It turns out she is also a skilled historical researcher.
Thus, Radiant is well-grounded in facts and in the scientific advances made by her dual subjects. She created dialogue between them from reading their letters. This is called creative nonfiction. I was impressed by how smoothly Liz Heinecke melded all this together.
I read the book for a reading group. Some of the members felt the writing was too juvenile. But when I was a young adult struggling to pass my science courses, I would have loved reading about the challenges these two women faced and overcame. Since I still struggle with scientific concepts, I loved the book now!
Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for science, ever. In fact she won two of them plus raised two daughters in Paris while spending hours in her lab. She had the support of Pierre, her husband, but still did all the cooking, etc. Loie Fuller advanced live dance performance with her incredible radium painted costumes, radium which she procured from Marie. She had the support of her longtime female partner. Marie and Loie maintained their friendship for decades.
I also loved how the book incorporates the scientists, artists and performers of the time. Both of these women were tough as nails and managed to get around when life was about one thousand times more inconvenient than today.
A great story of female friendship and mutual support.
March 14, 2021
The premise of the book seemed to be that there was some meaningful relationship between dancer Loie Fuller and scientist Marie Curie. Wrong. Other than living in Paris at the same time in history and knowing each other, the two women had no impact on each other's lives other than a friendship. The book advertises itself as creative nonfiction based on the facts of the two women's lives. Heinecke compromised her facts for me when she repeats the story that Loie Fuller's birth place was a safe house in the Underground Railroad. There is a lot of speculation about that but absolutely no proof. The writing sometimes seems contrived. Consider this sentence in describing the sculptor Auguste Rodin: "Dramatic strokes of silver invaded his bushy beard, but rather than aging him, they amplified his powerful aura." Huh? Readers are better reading biographies of each woman.
January 31, 2021
This book was a great read. It is non-fiction but felt like a historical fiction in terms of ease of reading. I enjoyed learning about Loie Fuller, who I hadn’t been familiar with. Learning how 2 strong women connected in early 20th century Paris was enjoyable. Great read and I can see this as a good book club selection!
May 12, 2022
An interesting account of Marie Curie and Loïe Fuller (whom I knew nothing about). Often hailed as “creative non-fiction”, which is what made me look it up, I didn’t find it necessarily “creative”. A few passages per chapter are written from the main figures’ perspectives….but nothing that unique or groundbreaking in the technique.
February 13, 2021
My review for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: https://www.startribune.com/review-ra...
Most readers have probably heard of Marie Curie, the Polish and naturalized-French scientist whose groundbreaking research on radioactivity and the isolation of radioactive isotopes led to her becoming not only the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, but also the first person and the only woman to win it twice in two different fields: Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911.
Most readers have probably not heard of Loie Fuller, the American performer whose pioneering work in modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques — particularly with her popular "Serpentine Dance," a swirl of silk skirts and rainbow-colored spotlights at Paris's Folies Bergères — centered her in the Art Nouveau and Symbolist movements.
In her imaginative and immersive dual biography "Radiant: The Dancer, the Scientist, and a Friendship Forged in Light," Minneapolis writer Liz Heinecke explores the unexpected friendship that arises between these two iconic women when Fuller — already known as the Electric Fairy for both her performances and her technical genius — approaches the Curies with a "very interesting idea to make glowing clothes from radium salts."
A uniquely eccentric figure even in the crowded field of Belle Époque Paris, "rather than depending on choreography or exposed flesh," the 5-foot-2 Fuller "incorporated technology into her art to make it new and modern." Ceaselessly pursuing her beautiful stage illusions through luminescence, Fuller also sought patents for her inventions, for "it was Loie's mind, rather than her face or body, that made her shine brighter than the other dancers in Paris."
A science educator also known as the Kitchen Pantry Scientist, Heinecke has made it her mission to "show the world that anyone can be a scientist and kids from 3 to 93 can have fun playing with science at home." That spirit of joy illuminates "Radiant."
Heinecke employs all the methods of creative nonfiction to construct a true account that reads as fluidly as a novel, complete with invented dialogue "inspired by extensive research, letters, personal memoirs, and biographies." Her evocation of Paris feels lush and lively, as when she writes of the theater where Fuller performed that, "Bejeweled golden statuettes of horses and women stood silent guard over the alcohol-fueled scene, where waltzes and polkas mingled with conversation and laughter. Usherettes in bonnets adorned with fluttering pink ribbons handed out advertisement-stuffed programs." Or of Curie's laboratory that, "Even outside, the work produced horrible vapors that filled the courtyard and drifted into the indoor workspace. They'd open the windows in the shed year-round to keep the air moving and lessen the fumes, which blew dust around."
With cameos by Thomas Edison, Sarah Bernhardt, Isadora Duncan, Auguste Rodin and Albert Einstein to name a few, "Radiant" reads like a who's who of the early 20th century. Through her affectionate depiction of these women and their milieu, Heinecke allows their spirits "to keep shining on with a faint but steady light, inspiring us to dream bigger, work harder and reach higher"; skillfully, seamlessly, she lets their friendship and feminism blaze again in the 21st.
Most readers have probably heard of Marie Curie, the Polish and naturalized-French scientist whose groundbreaking research on radioactivity and the isolation of radioactive isotopes led to her becoming not only the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, but also the first person and the only woman to win it twice in two different fields: Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911.
Most readers have probably not heard of Loie Fuller, the American performer whose pioneering work in modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques — particularly with her popular "Serpentine Dance," a swirl of silk skirts and rainbow-colored spotlights at Paris's Folies Bergères — centered her in the Art Nouveau and Symbolist movements.
In her imaginative and immersive dual biography "Radiant: The Dancer, the Scientist, and a Friendship Forged in Light," Minneapolis writer Liz Heinecke explores the unexpected friendship that arises between these two iconic women when Fuller — already known as the Electric Fairy for both her performances and her technical genius — approaches the Curies with a "very interesting idea to make glowing clothes from radium salts."
A uniquely eccentric figure even in the crowded field of Belle Époque Paris, "rather than depending on choreography or exposed flesh," the 5-foot-2 Fuller "incorporated technology into her art to make it new and modern." Ceaselessly pursuing her beautiful stage illusions through luminescence, Fuller also sought patents for her inventions, for "it was Loie's mind, rather than her face or body, that made her shine brighter than the other dancers in Paris."
A science educator also known as the Kitchen Pantry Scientist, Heinecke has made it her mission to "show the world that anyone can be a scientist and kids from 3 to 93 can have fun playing with science at home." That spirit of joy illuminates "Radiant."
Heinecke employs all the methods of creative nonfiction to construct a true account that reads as fluidly as a novel, complete with invented dialogue "inspired by extensive research, letters, personal memoirs, and biographies." Her evocation of Paris feels lush and lively, as when she writes of the theater where Fuller performed that, "Bejeweled golden statuettes of horses and women stood silent guard over the alcohol-fueled scene, where waltzes and polkas mingled with conversation and laughter. Usherettes in bonnets adorned with fluttering pink ribbons handed out advertisement-stuffed programs." Or of Curie's laboratory that, "Even outside, the work produced horrible vapors that filled the courtyard and drifted into the indoor workspace. They'd open the windows in the shed year-round to keep the air moving and lessen the fumes, which blew dust around."
With cameos by Thomas Edison, Sarah Bernhardt, Isadora Duncan, Auguste Rodin and Albert Einstein to name a few, "Radiant" reads like a who's who of the early 20th century. Through her affectionate depiction of these women and their milieu, Heinecke allows their spirits "to keep shining on with a faint but steady light, inspiring us to dream bigger, work harder and reach higher"; skillfully, seamlessly, she lets their friendship and feminism blaze again in the 21st.
February 23, 2021
Part historical fiction novel, part biography, this novel delves into the lives of two women who were pioneers in their fields: Marie Curie and Loïe Fuller. Marie, who is of course that Curie, was a pioneer in the chemistry and physics world, going on to discover both radiation and polonium. Loïe Fuller, who was American born, was a pioneer in modern dance, incorporating technology and the use of color into her performances, through fabric, lights and different colored apparel. The two begin a friendship when Loïe writes to Marie, begging for radium, I order to enhance her costume. While Marie declines, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. All in all, while the book seems to be more biography over historical fiction, it was definitely really fascinating to read about women who were both pioneers in their respective fields but also bonded with one another by finding the commonalities. In addition, it was truly infuriating to read about how sexist the world was at the time. Literally one newspaper stated that maybe women will be viewed as human beings one day. Wow thanks so much! Women aren’t actually aliens, who knew?! Anyways, the novel was pretty fascinating because it combined three of my favorite things: knowledge about radioactivity, female pioneers and dance. However, it was also a bit dry in places, though incredibly well researched.
February 16, 2021
As a fan of historical fiction, my initial reaction when finishing a book is to try to find out how much of it actually happened. The author’s ability to spin together both fictional and nonfictional together in a story can be mesmerizing. Radiant is a beautiful true story, examining the importance of female friendship.
Radiant reads like historical fiction but is in fact non fiction. The story of Marie Curie and her unlikely friendship with dancer Loie Fuller sheds a different light on the scientist. I am sure the author took a few artistic liberties, but judging by the impressive bibliography, they were thoughtfully and respectfully done.
When approaching Radiant, I was so excited to learn more about Marie Curie, I only knew her as a pioneering scientist known for her work with radium. However, it was Loie Fuller’s story which captivated me. All but forgotten by history, Liz Heinecke does a beautiful job describing her contributions to modern dance.
I highly recommend checking out Radiant!
Radiant reads like historical fiction but is in fact non fiction. The story of Marie Curie and her unlikely friendship with dancer Loie Fuller sheds a different light on the scientist. I am sure the author took a few artistic liberties, but judging by the impressive bibliography, they were thoughtfully and respectfully done.
When approaching Radiant, I was so excited to learn more about Marie Curie, I only knew her as a pioneering scientist known for her work with radium. However, it was Loie Fuller’s story which captivated me. All but forgotten by history, Liz Heinecke does a beautiful job describing her contributions to modern dance.
I highly recommend checking out Radiant!
April 12, 2021
I found Radiant to be a fascinating read. While I was familiar in a shallow way with Marie Curie's life story, I had never heard of Loie Fuller. The juxtaposition of the main characters- a scientist and a dancer- and their worlds was striking. While the author calls the book "creative non-fiction", I found the extensive research she did convincing.
Both women faced struggles with the male-dominated society that existed in the late 19th and early 20th century. I especially enjoyed learning more about Marie Curie's life as a scientist, wife, mother and celebrity. Even a century ago women found that their personal life could be used against them by sensational journalism. Marie and Loie both met and were friends with many of the famous lights of their time - from Rodin and Isadora Duncan to Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison.
I am going to recommend this book not only to friends but also to my teenage granddaughters. I love having them learn about women who overcame adverse situations to fulfill their dreams.
Both women faced struggles with the male-dominated society that existed in the late 19th and early 20th century. I especially enjoyed learning more about Marie Curie's life as a scientist, wife, mother and celebrity. Even a century ago women found that their personal life could be used against them by sensational journalism. Marie and Loie both met and were friends with many of the famous lights of their time - from Rodin and Isadora Duncan to Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison.
I am going to recommend this book not only to friends but also to my teenage granddaughters. I love having them learn about women who overcame adverse situations to fulfill their dreams.
August 21, 2021
This was meh. I vaguely remember reading a similar book of this genre (Loving Frank, which was decent) but I just couldn’t really dig into this one. I didn’t really care about Loie—she was kind of an obnoxious self promoter, as opposed to Marie, who *had* to be a self-promoter because she was a scientist with boobies and no one would listen to her. Also I just don’t caaaaarrrrrreeee about science as it relates to dancing like a snake.
**Ok technically didn’t finish because I had to return it to the library... but based on the 25% that I read, I would give it three stars, meaning it is was just ok, not total garbage, might have gotten better if I’d kept reading, not checking it out again to finish, wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.**
**Ok technically didn’t finish because I had to return it to the library... but based on the 25% that I read, I would give it three stars, meaning it is was just ok, not total garbage, might have gotten better if I’d kept reading, not checking it out again to finish, wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.**
June 16, 2021
I've never read anything quite like this book. It was captivating, but also inspiring and informative. Heinecke does a superb job bringing the main characters to life, detailing their hopes, fears, dreams, regrets, anticipations, worries... She gives them a voice and provides vivid detail to the backdrops of their lives, lending context and historically accurate quotes from contemporaries where appropriate. If you have any interest in La Belle Époque, the explosion of science at the turn of the 20th century, the home front of WWI, or the history of theatre and dance, this book is a must-read. Do it for yourself, do it for the women in your life, and do it for Loïe Fuller. The world deservers to remember her contributions.
February 14, 2023
I found this book a bit of a slog. TMI - too much information, much of which did not add to the story. Heinecke states in the Acknowledgements that her editor “pulled me out of a hundred rabbit holes..”. In my view, she should have done a lot more of that. So many scenes are dragged out endlessly to no good effect. Much of the dialogue seems contrived. Although most people around the world have heard of Marie Curie, AND have read one or more of the dozens (hundreds?) of books written about her, Loie Fuller is mainly unknown, so I appreciated learning about her. Was the connection between the two amplified so that people who knew of and appreciated Curie would read this? I suspect so.
July 29, 2021
This is the first adult book for author Liz Heinecke whose background is in molecular biology and bacteriology. She has written some in the past in the sciences for children, specifically in experiments parents and children can do at home to encourage the development of a love of science. Her background and her passion definitely cross over into this book. You can find her online at The Kitchen Pantry Scientist. Continue Reading at libgirlbooks.com.
June 23, 2024
They’re not friends?? They brush past each other as casual acquaintances.
April 11, 2024
Liz Heinecke’s dual biography of Marie Curie and Loïe Fuller is an engrossing story of two women at the tops of their fields whose passionate curiosity lead them to a generative, supportive friendship. Written with pace and creativity, I learned about these luminaries and came away with refreshed appreciation for the world’s innovators.
I was familiar with Marie Curie in the way most everyone is: the woman scientist who discovered radium and won the Nobel prize. There are certainly other biographies of her out there — likely more robust and granular — but this rendition followed the complete arc of her life with special emphasis on the intersections with artist Loïe Fuller. Unlike Marie Curie, I was not familiar with Fuller, which is honestly sort of bonkers given my dance background and love of theater. While one of these women achieved lasting notoriety, the other has largely faded from memory despite her intense, lasting impacts on performance arts. She developed extraordinary lighting techniques for the stage where she performed highly creative dances that created mesmerizing illusions. Her interest in light ultimately led her to reach out to Marie Curie who had recently discovered radioactivity and was working to isolate radium — an element that gives off light.
Many parts of their stories are surreal and improbable in the way that some of the best nonfiction is. There is romance and scandal and breakthroughs and war and murder and heartbreak, all on the backdrop of Paris at the turn of the century with a star-studded background cast. Author Liz Heinecke uses creative nonfiction to imbue the stories with dialogue and life all while bringing to the fore two truly extraordinary women. If you were already a casual fan of Marie Curie, this will make you even more impressed. And brace yourself for Loïe Fuller — a woman full of drive and wonder whose historical erasure is a real shame.
All in all, a fantastic read that I’d recommend without reservation!
I was familiar with Marie Curie in the way most everyone is: the woman scientist who discovered radium and won the Nobel prize. There are certainly other biographies of her out there — likely more robust and granular — but this rendition followed the complete arc of her life with special emphasis on the intersections with artist Loïe Fuller. Unlike Marie Curie, I was not familiar with Fuller, which is honestly sort of bonkers given my dance background and love of theater. While one of these women achieved lasting notoriety, the other has largely faded from memory despite her intense, lasting impacts on performance arts. She developed extraordinary lighting techniques for the stage where she performed highly creative dances that created mesmerizing illusions. Her interest in light ultimately led her to reach out to Marie Curie who had recently discovered radioactivity and was working to isolate radium — an element that gives off light.
Many parts of their stories are surreal and improbable in the way that some of the best nonfiction is. There is romance and scandal and breakthroughs and war and murder and heartbreak, all on the backdrop of Paris at the turn of the century with a star-studded background cast. Author Liz Heinecke uses creative nonfiction to imbue the stories with dialogue and life all while bringing to the fore two truly extraordinary women. If you were already a casual fan of Marie Curie, this will make you even more impressed. And brace yourself for Loïe Fuller — a woman full of drive and wonder whose historical erasure is a real shame.
All in all, a fantastic read that I’d recommend without reservation!
February 20, 2021
The beautiful cover of Radiant is befitting the equally appealing story inside.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Books for my gifted copy for review!
We are taken into the world of late 1800s-early 1900s Paris. An American performer named Loïe Fuller pursues her dream of marrying visual art and colour with her dance performances. She hears of a new substance called radium, with luminescent properties she desires to bring her visions of costuming to reality on stage.
A scientist we know as Madame Marie Curie pursues her work with radium for such uses, among many, with medical diagnostics and treatment.
With differering routes bringing these women down a common path, a friendship is formed.
Author Liz Heinecke introduces her book with what she terms "creative nonfiction". These are real women and the book is laid on a historical foundation. I previously knew only broadstrokes of Curie's story, but nothing of Fuller.
This was quite a fascinating melding of the artistic and scientific, I would imagine a difficult writing feat to pull off. But Heinecke does so, and well. Readable, informative and gorgeous imagery make up this intriguing and unique book.
There's also the pull of hindsight, as we now know the devastating effects of the radioactive element and it's almost cringe-worthy to experience a time when those were not known.
Recommended!
Released on Feb. 16.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Books for my gifted copy for review!
We are taken into the world of late 1800s-early 1900s Paris. An American performer named Loïe Fuller pursues her dream of marrying visual art and colour with her dance performances. She hears of a new substance called radium, with luminescent properties she desires to bring her visions of costuming to reality on stage.
A scientist we know as Madame Marie Curie pursues her work with radium for such uses, among many, with medical diagnostics and treatment.
With differering routes bringing these women down a common path, a friendship is formed.
Author Liz Heinecke introduces her book with what she terms "creative nonfiction". These are real women and the book is laid on a historical foundation. I previously knew only broadstrokes of Curie's story, but nothing of Fuller.
This was quite a fascinating melding of the artistic and scientific, I would imagine a difficult writing feat to pull off. But Heinecke does so, and well. Readable, informative and gorgeous imagery make up this intriguing and unique book.
There's also the pull of hindsight, as we now know the devastating effects of the radioactive element and it's almost cringe-worthy to experience a time when those were not known.
Recommended!
Released on Feb. 16.
Read
February 12, 2021As someone who was a dancer for much of my life, I am always excited to dive into a book with reference and thought into the world of dance and performance. Having said that, I am a reviewer who just recently finished an ARC of Half Life by Jillian Cantor, a fictional story of Madam Curry as well. It's as if the world is telling me to get an education from the Nobel Prize-winning physicist.
After spending my evening with Raidiant I found the connection between Curry and Fuller to be a very creative and wonderful friendship. It's a great look into the past. Especially women in the early 1900s.
"The Dancer, The Scientist, and a Friendship Forged in Light" Beautiful!
~Tanja
*Sidenote - I really enjoyed the inclusion of photographs as well.
*ARC via Grand Central Publishing
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿
After spending my evening with Raidiant I found the connection between Curry and Fuller to be a very creative and wonderful friendship. It's a great look into the past. Especially women in the early 1900s.
"The Dancer, The Scientist, and a Friendship Forged in Light" Beautiful!
~Tanja
*Sidenote - I really enjoyed the inclusion of photographs as well.
*ARC via Grand Central Publishing
Follow me on
Instagram✿Twitter✿Facebook✿Pinterest✿
April 8, 2024
Did I think this book would reveal the lesbian relationship between Marie Curie and Loie Fuller? Is the sky blue?
I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed just having the audiobook on while going about my day. This was just a very pleasant book. I definitely learned a lot about Marie Curie, which made me realize how little I actually knew about her despite how much she improved the fields of medicine and physics.
I wasn’t expecting this book to rock my world; I definitely went into it knowing I’d give it 3 stars lol but I think sometimes that’s okay and necessary. I just wanted to learn a bit about two women I knew next to nothing about, and that’s what I did. I’m really bad at reading nonfiction, so I love a “creative nonfiction” or “literary nonfiction” or whatever where it feels like a fiction book lol
I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed just having the audiobook on while going about my day. This was just a very pleasant book. I definitely learned a lot about Marie Curie, which made me realize how little I actually knew about her despite how much she improved the fields of medicine and physics.
I wasn’t expecting this book to rock my world; I definitely went into it knowing I’d give it 3 stars lol but I think sometimes that’s okay and necessary. I just wanted to learn a bit about two women I knew next to nothing about, and that’s what I did. I’m really bad at reading nonfiction, so I love a “creative nonfiction” or “literary nonfiction” or whatever where it feels like a fiction book lol
March 12, 2023
Initially, I had a hard time getting into this book, but I would say the last half I really enjoyed. It gave a wonderful look into the life of Marie Curie, including her family life, her love of Pierre, her children and her scientific life. The book highlights the restraints put on women at the time and how it took decades for her to get the recognition she deserved. I had never heard of Loie Fuller before, but her story is quite interesting as well. One thing that struck me most was all of the artists, scientists and other famous people that worked together during this time. What a wonderful time to be alive and to work with all of these people! I think anyone who enjoys history and learning about pioneers in the scientific field will enjoy this book.
February 14, 2021
This book was right up my alley as a lover of all things French and historical. It's a compelling story about 2 women - one well-known and the other who has faded over time - that focuses on the women's accomplishments throughout the course of their friendship. I can tell how much research went into this book, and I thought it was a great touch to include as many of their actual conversations and writings as possible. Despite being nonfiction, this book read like a novel, and I enjoyed every part of it.
April 9, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read it after hearing the author, Liz Heinecke, speak over a pandemic-style virtual reading. I was impressed how Heinecke drew together these two women who were only loosely connected. It was very clever. I would say that had I not heard her speak about her research into the lives of Marie Curie and Loie Fuller that I would have had healthy skepticism about the author’s protrayals of their inner thoughts. But since she researched the subjects so thoroughly, I’ll go along with it. It definitely made the book more intimate and fun to read.
March 31, 2021
Fascinating read about two women uniquely different but similar in their passion and pursuit of light-science. One a dancer and another a scientist. Enjoyed the interweaving of the two stories and their actual friendship and what they both endured in a man’s world and fought for all they discovered and created. One women who has been forgotten yet her techniques fill every theater today and another woman who is not forgotten and all know her contribution to mankind.
April 13, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The authors writing style and her research into the Curies and Loie Fuller combined to make this a great read. I had no idea that Loie was so inventive and original almost a scientist herself though not educated as one. Its so ironic that Marie Currie and perhaps Loie herself became ill from the discovery and experimentation with radium.
If their story interests you, be sure to visit Maryhill Museum in Washington state east of Portland along the Columbia River.
If their story interests you, be sure to visit Maryhill Museum in Washington state east of Portland along the Columbia River.
May 26, 2021
Enjoyed this book. Very interesting history about radioactivity and the two women who became good friends because of it: one a dancer and the other the scientist. At times though, some explanations were just too scientific for me to understand. But most of the story takes place in Paris and since I have been there several times, it brought back wonderful memories in addition see it vividly in my mind.
September 7, 2021
I have a soft spot for creative nonfiction, Marie Curie, and Loïe Fuller, so of course I would love this. This was probably the perfect book for me. I loved the format of it and how it intertwined the lives of these two shining women. I’d love to see more creative nonfiction interpretations of biographies. I feel that they work so long as the author has done extensive research, as was clearly the case here.
(Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my review copy. All opinions are my own.)
(Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my review copy. All opinions are my own.)
February 17, 2021
This is such an interesting story! Both Marie and Loie are such strong woman. Each, in their own way, forges a role for women that was controversial and ground breaking. The book brings to life Paris and the relationship between these women. I knew nothing of Loie and appreciated the foil that Marie played and that Marie offered me a context I understood. Good read!
February 19, 2021
I have heard of both of these women, Marie Curie and Loïe Fuller but did not realize they were friends and that Loïe was so fascinated with science. I found myself wanting to know more about what was happening in their lives in relation to each other, so Liz Heinecke's book held my attention. A very interesting read.
May 1, 2021
A wonderful fictional account of the friendship struck between a scientist and an artist, who was also a scientist. One began her life unknown and finished with fame and renown. The other began her life with fame and renown and ended almost unknown. But both excelled in, what is now known, as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews