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Now for the first time, Oxford offers the general public a series of readable, accessible biographies of major scientists. These illustrated biographies combine intelligible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world. In this inspiring biography, Naomi Pasachoff reveals the many sides of Marie Curie: wife, mother, professional woman, scientist, and celebrity. Throughout her life, Curie's passion for science propelled her to make do with little. Her first laboratory was an unused corner in her husband Pierre's workplace. Her second was a rude shed, where her experiments with uranium led to her discovery of radioactivity and to two Nobel Prizes. Pasachoff also investigates touchier episodes of Curie's life; her affair with a married colleague after her husband's death, and the harsh treatment she received from the French press. Using clear, understandable language, Pasachoff details Curie's scientific discoveries and the legacy she left through her research, her teaching, and her lifelong commitment to the welfare of humankind.
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