Albert Einstein summed up the greatest scientific deed of Marie Curie's life as "proving the existence of radioactive elements and isolating them." Her discoveries changed completely the basic concepts of science. No longer could matter by considered motionless. Atoms were not tiny solids but galaxies with a nucleus as sun and electrons as planets spinning in orbit around it. Incredible power lurked in particles so small no microscope could make them visible. Marie Curie's work began a new era—the Atomic Age.

Born Marya Sklodovska in Warsaw, Poland, Marie showed an early interest in science. Yet there seemed little hope that she would receive much education. Because her father, a physics professor, opposed the Russianization of Poland, he was never allowed to become more than a poorly paid high school teacher. His five children had to help earn their living at an early age.

Marie finally left Poland, in order to continue her studies in Paris. She enrolled in the Physics department of the Sorbonne. It was in Paris, too, that she met Pierre Curie, an ardent young scientist. They fell in love and married, despite the fact that they considered marriage a hindrance to their careers. The joining of Pierre and Marie was the creation of one of the most productive scientific partnerships the world has known.

Soon after their marriage Marie became interested in the strange rays emanating from uranium. She devoted the rest of her life to discovering their secrets. Eventually they became the cause of her death, but not before she saw the beginnings of the great revolution which her success in this field had caused.

From the dust jacket