A naukri.com initiative
Guardian
4w
70
Image Credit: Guardian
The Elements of Marie Curie by Dava Sobel review – lessons in chemistry
- The Elements of Marie Curie is Dava Sobel's account of the life and scientific discoveries of the Nobel prize-winning female scientist.
- The author interweaves her story of Curie's life with those of dozens of female scientists who passed through her lab in Paris.
- Marie Curie's life was marked by personal tragedy, prodigious scientific output, and groundbreaking discoveries.
- Curie and her husband discovered the elements polonium and radium, and her work changed the understanding of atoms.
- Aside from being the first woman to win a Nobel prize, Curie was a devoted mother, carer for relatives, and lecturer.
- Sobel's artful way of structuring each chapter with the name of a scientist and an element neatly blends science and biography.
- While Curie's emotional life remains largely mysterious, Sobel's writing presents her as a noble, almost saintly figure.
- The female scientists who worked with Curie, including her daughter, also receive attention, but their treatment could be more developed.
- The book provides informative historical context for Curie's work that highlights its importance, but some gaps remain to be filled.
- The book is a noteworthy addition to the biographical literature on Curie and will appeal both to people interested in science and those looking for inspiration in the lives of remarkable women.
Read Full Article
4 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app