Curie

Marie

SADDLEBACK EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING

Titles in this Series
The Beatles
Alexander Graham Bell
Daniel Boone
Davy Crockett
Marie Curie
Walt Disney
Amelia Earhart
Thomas Edison

MARIE CURIE
Albert Einstein
Benjamin Franklin
Houdini
Thomas Jefferson
Martin Luther King Jr.
Abraham Lincoln
Charles Lindbergh
Elvis Presley
Jackie Robinson
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Babe Ruth
George Washington

Three Watson
Irvine, CA 92618-2767
Website: www.sdlback.com
Marie Curie
 Saddleback’s Graphic Biographies

Copyright © 2008 by Saddleback Educational Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the
publisher.

ISBN-10: 1-59905-226-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-59905-226-7
eBook: 978-1-60291-589-3
 marie curie 

On a May night in 1902, in Paris, Marie and Pierre curie went to

the old shed where Marie had spent many years of hard work.
In the darkness, they saw a beautiful light. No one had ever
seen it before. It was the glow of radium.

Marie Curie, the discoverer of radium, was the first great

woman scientist—and the first person ever to win two Nobel
prizes. She gave the world a new branch of science and a new
medical treatment.


She began My dear children, your

When will we see
life as Marya mother has just presented
her?
Sklodowska in you with a new baby
Warsaw, Poland. sister, Marya!

You are a funny Physics ap-par-at-us!

Her father, child! Do you like my Yes!
Professor physics apparatus?
Sklodowski, was
a professor of
physics. Even as a
small child, Marya
loved to look at
the instruments
he used.

Marya never forgot anything. She

did not forget this. Someday she
would learn to use it.

Warsaw was in But some patriotic teachers taught it in secret.

a part of Poland Marya’s was one of them.
conquered and ruled
Marya, tell us about He was elected King of
by Russia. Everyone
Stanislas Augustus. Poland in 1764. He was
had to use the
intelligent and well-educated.
Russian language.
It was forbidden to
study Polish history
or literature.

The class was studying Polish

history in the Polish language. This
was a crime!
 marie curie 

Suddenly a bell rang. The class Four girls ran along the aisles
froze. collecting books and papers.
The signal!
Quick, girls!

They ran with Get out your

them to another sewing!
room.

This is a sewing class.

They returned to their H’m … I see.
While the girls work, I
seats as the door
read them Russian fairy
opened. It was the
tales!
headmistress with
the Russian school
inspector.


The inspector opened one desk I want to

lid. He found nothing. question one of Very well. Marya
your pupils. Sklodowska,
please stand.

Now she answered perfectly the inspectors many

questions.
Marya had
prayed not to Name the tsars who Paul I, Alexander I,
be called on, have reigned since Nicholas I, Her Majesty
but she always Catherine II. Tell the the Empress, His
was. She spoke names and titles of Imperial Majesty …
perfect Russian the royal family.
and was the
best student,
though also the
youngest.

Later, Professor Sklodowski was given a much The Russians want to

poorer job. Marya talked to her older sister, keep us ignorant. We
Bronya. must learn everything
Of course you we can! And you most
should go! of all because you are
I’ve won a scholarship
so smart!
to the high school.
Should I go there? It
is a Russian school.
They are our bitter
enemies!
 marie curie 

So Marya went to the The gold medal for

high school. And in June the best student
of 1883, there were goes to Marya
graduation ceremonies. Sklodowska!

Her father was very proud.

You are only fifteen years old. You
We have many relatives But papa, spent most of your life studying
in the country who want I expected hard! Now you must have fun!
you to visit them. You to go to
must spend the next work!
year enjoying yourself!

Look, tonight I danced Wait until there is

So Marya through the soles of my a kulig,* you will
went visiting. shoes! dance for two
Her aunts days and nights!
stuffed her
with good
food. Her
uncles taught
her to ride
horseback.
Her cousins
took her to
parties.

* kulig, an old Polish winter tradition sleigh ride party moving from house to house


Where are we Everywhere! It’s a

going? magical journey!
Then the
night of a
kulig came.
The girls
in their
costumes
climbed
into sleighs.
Their
escorts rode
beside them.

They rode from village to village,

where other sleighs joined them.
Musicians rode in front, playing
as they went.

Here and there It’s wonderful! How For another day

at a big house long does it go on? and night!
they stopped,
were greeted with
trays of food, and
danced.
 marie curie 

But the kulig ended at last. And so I have written out these
did Marya’s wonderful holiday. In cards to send out: Lessons in
September she returned to Warsaw. arithmetic, geometry, French,
by young lady with diploma.
I want to earn You are a dear, but
my living helping how will you earn
you to study this money?
medicine.

But not many people wanted lessons. And those I forgot to ask my
who did made it hard for Marya. husband for your
money. I’ll surely have it
My son needs a Sonny needs reading for you next week.
tutor. You are much lessons, but he doesn’t
too young. want them.
Yaaaa!
I won’t
learn to
read. So
there!

She seemed to spend her time

tramping around Warsaw in bad
weather. She made very little
money.


I must take a job Live in the Oh, Bronya because you are
as a governess country? Leave older. You’ve been waiting for
with a family in papa? Why should years! After you become a
the country. Then you do that for doctor, then you can help me!
the salary will be me?
enough to help.

Miss Sklodowska. Come in my

So Bronya went
dear! Take off
to Paris to enter
your things!
Sorbonne University.
Warm yourself
And in 1886 eighteen
with hot tea!
year-old Marya
became a governess.

Later she met

This is Bronka, my I am so glad you
the young family
oldest daughter. have come!
members.
Andzia and Julek will
be your special pupils.
 marie curie 

I’ve never known

The family was a girl like you. You
friendly. Marya dance divinely.
got along well. You’re beautiful. You
Then the oldest ride and row. And
son, Kazimierz, you have a brilliant
came home for brain!
the holidays.

Happily, Kazimierz went to ask his parents’

Marya, I love you.
approval.
Could you love me,
marry me? You, my son and heir, Oh, Kazimierz, you
marry a governess? must be mad! You could
Never! marry the best catch in
the neighborhood!

Yes, Kazimierz.
I do love you!

Kazimierz returned I must stay here.

to school. Marya Bronya needs the
went on with her money I send her.
teaching. No more I will forget love
was said in the and go on with my
family of such a studies.
marriage.
10

For three years, Marya worked with her pupils. In her spare time she
studied. Whatever books she could find on physics, mathematics, and
chemistry. When she had almost given up hope, things began to change
for the better.

Papa writes that Spring came, and Bronya has

he has a better more good news. almost finished
job. He can send her studies.
money to Bronya. She is to be
I should save for married to a
myself. young doctor.
They want
me to live
with them and
study at the
Sorbonne!

It is too late for me. The Museum That is only to fool the
I am too stupid. Too of Industry and Russians! The important
many years have Agriculture! That thing is our small
passed. sounds very important! laboratory back here!

But at least she could

return to Warsaw. She
took a new job with a
family there. She saw
her father often. And
in the evenings she
visited a cousin.
 marie curie 11

A laboratory where
A laboratory, where I could
young Poles can learn
learn to use the equipment.
science. You too,
cousin Marya!

From then on For my passport, for my rail I can add this

she knew what tickets, for my tuition. Oh, small bit, dear
she wanted to thank you, child.
do. She spent Father!
every spare
moment in the
laboratory. She
saved every
spare cent.
At last she
wrote Bronya
that she could
come to Paris.

The day came to leave. Yes, my

It won’t be too
dear! Work
I’ve sent my mattress, my long. Soon I’ll
hard! Good
bedclothes, my trunk. I have my come back to
luck!
folding chair for the train, my you and stay!
food, books, a quilt.
12

Three days later she reached Paris I will show you

Please, could I
and the apartment where Bronya your room. It’s
first go look at
lived with her new husband, small but quiet.
the Sorbonne?
Casimir Dluski.

At last, you Welcome,

are here! little sister!

Following directions, she climbed At last she reached her goal.

to the open upper deck of a bus.

France! Where
the air is free.
The people are
free. There are no
Russian spies!

The Sorbonne—where women

are free to learn—where I am
free to learn!
 marie curie 13

She went in, paid her fees, and Then classes began.
signed up for classes.
I thought I knew
Your name? Marya, no Marie French, knew
Sklodowska. From physics and
now on, I will use mathematics. I
the French spelling. know nothing!
I am stupid!
I must study,
study, study!

But at the Dluski’s

apartment
there were
interruptions.
Evening parties.
Sometimes a
young Polish
piano player.

No one knew then that the young

player, Ignacy Paderewski, would one
day be a world-famous pianist and the
leader of a free Poland.

Soon But you will have to pay rent

If I find a cheap room near
afterward … and buy food. You will not have
the Sorbonne, I will save
enough to live on!
two hours going and coming
each day and my bus fare.
14

No one bothered her. She could

But Marie
study until 2 a.m. and start again
insisted. Soon
at 6 a.m.!
she moved to
an attic room
with only
a lamp for
light, a small
alcohol stove
for heat, a
pitcher to bring
water from
downstairs.

Marya! What’s The little one has been

wrong? starving herself. Put
She also
forgot to eat. her to bed and feed
She grew her beefsteaks!
pale and thin.
One day she
fainted on
the stairs.
A friend ran
for Casimir
Dluski.

But no one could stop Marie from studying. First in order of

And after final examinations, the results merit, Mademoiselle
were announced. Marie Sklodowska!
 marie curie 15

After a few Soon she spoke to friends about a problem.

summer months I have a chance to do I will speak to a
in Warsaw, some research on my friend of mine, a fine
she returned own. But I have no scientist, who might
to Paris well- laboratory large enough have a workroom
rested, fed, for the equipment I need. large enough that
and with you could use.
money from a
scholarship.

But she was persuaded to return

Perhaps Of course! He is
the next day to meet him.
you know a great scientist,
him, Pierre head of the physics
Pierre, I want you
Curie. and chemistry
to meet Marie
laboratory—too
Sklodowska.
brilliant to bother
with my little
experiments!

Oh, Pierre, long ago I And I decided the same!

From then on, decided to put science But I never expected to
Pierre saw first and never marry! meet a girl who shared
Marie as often my ideals about science!
as possible.
He fell in love.
Before she
returned to
Poland again,
he asked her
to marry him.
16

No, I must go But in Poland, But she returned to Paris in the

home, take care you can’t go fall. And Pierre would not give up.
of Papa, teach, do on with your At last Marie admitted that she
what I can for my studies. You loved him.
country. must not give And I love them.
We can be married
up your work. They remind
at my parents’
home at Sceaux. me of my own
They love you very family.
much!

Marie did leave Pierre and Paris to

return to Warsaw and her father.

She will be happy with my

They were married And you will have
Pierre. There’s no one on
on July 26, 1895. a loving daughter
earth to equal him!
They rode away in Marie!
on new bicycles
for a trip through
the countryside,
as their relatives
and friends waved
goodbye.

When they Why do your dishes You will learn! You’ve

returned to turn out so good, and never kept house
Paris, Marie mine turn out a mess? before.
bought a
cookbook and
asked Bronya
for help. She
had starved
herself, but
she wanted
to feed Pierre
well.
 marie curie 17

In September 1897 a daughter was But Marie still went to the

born. They named her Irene. laboratory for eight hours every
Is she not the day, leaving the baby with a nurse.
Absolutely the
most beautiful
most beautiful!
baby you’ve ever You will take her to Yes, indeed,
seen? the park for fresh Madame!
air and sunshine?

And she and Pierre spent their evenings I’ll need a place to work
studying. and room to test many
samples!
We have talked of A fine idea!
Becquerel’s* discovery You may find
of the strange rays something
given off by uranium. I important!
want to find out what
causes those rays.

I’ll speak to the school

director. There must be a
room there you can use!

* French physicist, Henri Becquerel, discovered that a mysterious X-ray was produced by uranium
18

She was offered a glassed-in porch, unheated

and damp. She took it and went to work. I know that the
strength of radiation
depends on the
amount of uranium
in the sample. And
it is not affected by
heat or light. Where
does it come from?
Is it present in any
other metals?

She got samples of other chemical Do you think we might call this
elements and began examining strange radiance radioactivity? And
them. the elements that give off the rays
are radioactive? Yes, I like it!
Pierre! I found You are
today that thorium a true
gives off rays just scientist!
like uranium!

I have done my tests over

Then Marie and over. There is no mistake.
did tests to There is far more radioactivity
learn the here than the amount of
amount of uranium this sample could
radioactivity produce!
in her
samples.
The results
surprised her.
 marie curie 19

Of course, she talked it over with I know you, If so, could we

Pierre. Marie! You’ve call it polonium?
made no mistake. In honor of my
You see what it means, Pierre? If I You have made country?
have made no mistake, there must an important
be an unknown element present discovery!
causing this powerful radiation! A
new element!

Seeing the And the second is Find it, and you

importance of much stronger, more may call it anything
Marie’s work, radiant, than the first. you wish!
Pierre put his own Perhaps we should
aside in order to name it radium?
help her. Soon
their tests showed
that there must
be two unknown
elements in the
uranium-bearing
ore.

The Curies knew many things about what these new radioactive
elements could do. But for other scientists to believe in them, they had
to see them, weigh them, feel them.
Then we must
find salts of
If it is true, pure radium to
what you claim prove it!
will upset beliefs
scientists
have held for
hundreds of
years.
20

It was in pitchblende* ore that Marie had found signs of the new elements.
But in such small amounts that they would need tons of pitchblende to find
the proof.
How can we At the mines, For a place to A leaking room,
afford it? And they remove the work—we have no heat, no
where will we uranium salts to been offered floor, but we will
find room to use in glassware, this old shed. use it!
work with so then discard the
much of it? rest. Perhaps we
could buy the
discarded ore for
very little!

A friend arranged for the Curie’s to receive the pitchblende dumpings by

paying only transportation costs. At last it arrived!

Our pitchblende! You are like a child with

It is here! a birthday gift!

Then Marie I will find the new

became a elements if I must treat a
one-woman mountain of pitchblende!
factory,
working in
the courtyard
more often
than indoors.

* pitchblende, brown to black mineral that is the chief source of uranium

 marie curie 21

At last came an evening in May 1902. After his wife’s

For four death, Pierre’s father had come to live with them.
years they
carried on Father, Marie has
We have done it! We
this research. something important to
have the proof, salts
Pierre also tell you!
of radium!
worked at
his teaching
job. Marie
herself
became a
teacher to
help with
expenses.

That night after Irene was asleep, they walked back to the old shed. In the
darkness, they saw a beautiful light! No one had ever seen it before. It was
the glow of uranium.

Don’t light the

lamp yet! Just look!
It is beautiful!

A company in America wants to To hold back

Now radium was information, to sell
know how to make radium salts
official and in it, would be contrary
from pitchblende ore. Should we
great demand. to the scientific
tell them? Or should we patent the
Doctors found spirit!
information and sell it?
it valuable in
the treatment of
cancer. But the
amount Marie had
produced from
all her work was
about enough to
fill the tip of a Pierre agreed. The Curies never
teaspoon. tried to make money from their
discovery.
22

In June 1903 for the work she The Royal Society of London
had done, Marie won her Doctor invited Pierre to lecture, and gave
of Science degree. them its Davy Medal.

In the name of the You are the first I don’t think

jury, Madame, I wish woman ever to attend I like being
to express to you all a Royal Society famous. It
our congratulations! meeting—proof of takes too
your fame, Madame! much time.

In December it was announced In 1904 Pierre was made Professor

that the great Nobel Prize in of Physics at the Sorbonne, and the
Physics had been given to them Curies had a new daughter.
and Henri Becquerel.
Is she not beautiful,
your baby sister, Yes, like
Oh, Pierre, 70,000 And Eve? a little
francs! Now you can perhaps doll.
give up the teaching we can
that takes so much of hire a lab
your time! assistant!
 marie curie 23

In 1906 the Curies rented a cottage Life has been very

for the Easter holidays. It was a happy wonderful with you,
time. Marie.

Marie, there has been an

It rained the accident. Pierre was crossing
day after they the street, a big horse-drawn
came home. truck was coming. He slipped.
Marie came Marie, Pierre is dead.
back later from
a shopping
trip. She found
two old friends
with Dr. Curie.
Their faces
frightened her.

Pierre is dead? Dead? Truly She walked past them into the wet garden.
dead?

I said to Pierre
once that we could
not exist without
each other.
24

Pierre said, “You are wrong! Soon she was offered the Physics
Even if one has to go on like professorship at the Sorbonne that Pierre
a body without a soul, one had held.
must work just the same!” I I will try to carry
You are the first
will try. on Pierre’s work,
woman ever to be
offered such a job in and to support our
France! children.

On November 5, the Hall of Science was crowded with students, reporters,

and the public. Madam Curie was to give her first lecture. She entered,
made a stiff little bow, and began to speak.

When one considers

the progress that
has been made in
physics in the past
ten years …
She had begun her lecture exactly
at the point where Pierre had
stopped in his own notes.

It is on Rue Pierre Curie. It

She won
will hold the wonderful new
many honors
laboratory Pierre always
and prizes
dreamed of!
including a
second Nobel
Prize in 1911.
She was more
concerned
with the New
Institute of Marie herself would head
Radium being the laboratory for many
built in Paris. years.
 marie curie 25

In 1921 with Eve and Irene, she visited the United States. At the White
House, President Harding presented her with a gram of radium paid for
by donations from American women.

Irene and the They spoke well, didn’t

young scientist they? We’re back in
she married, the fine days of the old
Frederic Joliot, laboratory!
continued the
work of the
Curies. In 1935
they would
share a Nobel
Prize for the
discovery
of artificial
radioactivity.

Her last book was published a year later.

Marie Curie
died in 1934 of
leukemia from
the radium she
had worked
with for so
many years.
She laid the
cornerstone
on which
scientists
have built the
Atomic Age.