The Story of Pierre Curie & Autobiographical Notes

A review of
The Story of Pierre Curie. Autobiographical Notes.
Scientific Editing and Critical Commentary
by Tomasz Pospieszny and Ewelina Wajs-Baryła (Polish and English Editions).

The book, edited by Professor Tomasz Pospieszny and Ewelina Wajs-Baryła, is titled The Story of Pierre Curie. Autobiographical Notes, published by Sophia Publishing House, is part of the “Historical Series” of the Polish Chemical Society (PCS). This series was initiated in 2024, on the centenary of Maria Skłodowska-Curie being awarded the status of Honorary Member by PCS in recognition of her merits in the “field of chemistry of radioactive elements.”

A Portrait of Pierre Curie Seen Through the Eyes of Maria Skłodowska-Curie

The book consists of two parts. The first part is the biography of Pierre Curie, titled “The Life Story of Pierre Curie”. In it, Maria Skłodowska-Curie introduces his childhood and student years, describes his early scientific successes, the discovery of the piezoelectric phenomenon, his pioneering work in crystallography and magnetism, among other things, details of their collaboration in isolating radium, as well as sharing memories of family life. It is a portrait of Pierre Curie seen through the eyes of Maria, the scientist with whom he formed an extraordinary scientific duo for 11 years, a duo that continues to fascinate to this day.

“I hope that the picture it gives of Pierre Curie is not deformed, and that it will help to conserve his memory. I wish, too, that it might remind those who knew him of the reasons for which they love him.”

—Marie Skłodowska-Curie

A Unique Insight into Maria Skłodowska-Curie’s World for Over a Century

The second part of the book contains the autobiography of the scientist titled “Autobiographical Notes by Maria Skłodowska-Curie”. Concisely and succinctly, Maria describes her extraordinary life from childhood in Warsaw to the early years of the twentieth century. This is an invaluable record of the history and work of an outstanding scientist, showcasing both her scientific achievements and personal reflections.

Skłodowska-Curie’s Autobiography was first published in 1923 at the request of Marie “Missy” Melony – two years after her trip to the USA. Marie “Missy” Meloney (1878–1943) was a prominent American journalist, magazine editor, and socialite. She was a good friend of Madame Curie and played a crucial role in supporting her work. In 1921, Meloney organized a fundraising campaign in the USA to purchase 1 gram of radium for the Radium Institute in Paris. At Skłodowska-Curie’s request, she later led another campaign in 1929 to acquire the first gram of radium for the Radium Institute in Warsaw, which opened in 1932.

With extraordinary simplicity, sincerity, and detachment, Maria Skłodowska-Curie presents her childhood in Poland, her emigration to France, her studies at the Sorbonne, and her marriage to Pierre Curie, providing readers with a unique insight into her world for over a hundred years.

She also recounts the years of research on natural radioactivity that led to the discovery of polonium and radium and earned two Nobel Prizes. Complementing this section is a chapter by the authors of the edition titled: “A Chronological History of Life and Work of Pierre Currie and Maria Skłodowska-Curie”.

It is worth adding that the edition includes a foreword by the director of the Musée Curie in Paris – Renaud Huynh, as well as a foreword by the great-grandson of the Nobel laureate’s brother – Dr. Piotr Chrząstowski. Also included is the foreword by Marie “Missy” Melony from the first edition of 1923. The American journalist organized Madame Curie’s trip to the USA in 1921:

“During her American trips, I repeatedly asked Madame Curie to write the history of her life. I emphasized her significance for history and her influence on students preparing to devote their lives to science. Finally, she agreed.”

—Marie Missy Melony.

A New Critical Edition of the Autobiography: Enhancing Understanding of Maria and Pierre Curie’s Lives and Work

Over 352 pages, there are more than 100 photographs and illustrations, including original drawings that accompanied the autobiographical notes published in installments in the American magazine “The Delineator” in 1922, harmoniously interwoven into the text of the book.

Maria Skłodowska-Curie, a pioneer in the research on radioactivity, was a person who not only changed the face of science, but also paved the way for women in the academic world. Her discoveries in the fields of physics and chemistry were groundbreaking, contributing to the development of modern oncological therapies, and permanently changing the history of medicine. However, her life is not only about scientific successes, but also about personal challenges and dramas, which make her story even more fascinating and timeless.

The new critical edition of the autobiography brings many valuable accents. The authors, with the help of numerous (248) footnotes, have corrected certain generalizations and ambiguities, as well as expanded on some little-known or poorly understood issues. Relying on extensive biographical literature and documents from Polish and French archives, they have created a comprehensive study that allows for a better understanding of the characters of Maria and Pierre Curie, as well as the context of their lives and work.

Thus, the readers receive not only the personal memories of Skłodowska-Curie, but also a reliably compiled and verified biography based on numerous sources. It also includes biographical notes on the figures mentioned in the text.

This is the first Polish and English critical edition of “The Story of Pierre Curie and Autobiographical Notes”, which should find its place in the library of science history enthusiasts, those interested in the role of women in science, and in the extraordinary biographies of individuals who have shaped our world.

The book can be purchased at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Biographical Museum store in Warsaw, Poland, at ul. Freta 16 and through the Sophia Publishing House (Wydawnictwo Sophia) in English and Polish versions.

The Author and Photographer

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marcin Górecki, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences is a Member of the Section of the History of Chemistry of the Polish Chemical Society (PCS), and a Chemistry Europe Fellow, Class 2022/2023.

The photos in this article were taken by Dr. Maciej Majdecki, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences and the Winner of the ChemistryViews Photo Competitions in 2023 and 2024.