Obsessive Genius

Curie (1867-1934) is still regarded by most as the pre-eminent woman scientist of the 20th century. This biography illuminates both the public Curie, a tireless scientist, and the private one, a woman who suffered bouts of severe depression, was distant from her children and scarred deeply by the accidental death of her scientist husband, Pierre, in 1906. Using long-sealed Curie family archives, Goldsmith offers a well-rounded view of Curie. Goldsmith also reminds us that Curie overcame obstacles, including pervasive sexism within the scientific community that almost cost her the Nobel Prize.