OBSESSIVE GENIUS

Eliza Foss adds an emotional tone to this portrait of Marie Curie, which reflects the author's admiration for the famous radium researcher. Foss's narration excels at capturing Curie's emotions even as the text notes the scientist's lack of awareness of her daughters' grief at Pierre Curie's death. Foss sounds appropriately childlike as she describes young Marie's first visit to her father's lab, turning it into a site of wonder. Marie's intensity in her research, her sadness at her husband's death, and her anger at the sexism in the scientific community of the time all are made real through Foss's voice work. Goldsmith's biography of Marie Curie will intrigue anyone unfamiliar with the scientist; Foss's reading will keep those who already know Curie interested. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2014]