Obsessive Genius. The inner world of Marie Curie. Barbara Goldsmith.2005. ISBN 9780393051377. I continue my reading on strong women scientists.  Marie Curie was treated as badly or worse than Ada Lovelace by the scientific male dominated community. She and her husband toiled in poverty  and relative obscurity and discovered radioactivity, radium , polonium. The spent many years of both their lives in finding medical and industrial usages of their discoveries, while paving the way for many many other scientists.  This book does a very good job of illustrating the tight circle of scientists that the Curies moved among.  All this in the build up to two great wars.  The writing is clear and concise and you get to identify with the whole Curie family. Tragically it was their dedication and selflessness that led to their own radioactive poisoning.

Enchantress of Numbers. A novel of Ada Lovelace Jennifer Chiaverini.  2017.  ISBN 9781101985205. A historical fiction novel the author has tried to use as much historical records as possible.  Ada Lovelace is still considered the first computer programmer as she was aclose friend of Charles Babbage – who is credited with designing ( albeit not building) the first computer – his Analytical Engine.  Ada was the daughter of Lord Byron the libetine poet – who it seems was a pretty awful  husband and father.  Lady Annabella Byron ( nee Noel) is a well to do noble women who leaves Lord Byron and raises Ada Byron on her own. Ada’s childhood seems quite draconian as her mother is terrified that Ada will inherit her fathers bad Byron blood – so the child grows up quite alone, most often in the care of caring and uncaring nannies, guardians and governesses. She is denied many of the joys of childhood. She develops a very keen mind early on, especially with maths and sciences.  Her mother  believed  that women are capable of anything and let Ava develop her skills.  The novel follows Avas trials and growth through to her marriage to Lord Lovelace, her three children and her role in London society up until her death from cancer at 34.  She was living in a golden age in England and was friends with Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Mary Shelly and many notable lords and ladies of the time.  This was despite the misogamy endemic to the time and age.  The author writes a clear concise prose and it holds your interest.

Travels. Michael Crichton. 1988. The author of many famous science related thrillers and movies like Jurassic Park, Crichton pens a concise story behind his life. He  covers his time as a medicals student and why he quite after getting his degree.  It certainly seems that he  was a very efficient writer, publishing The Andromeda Strain while still in med school ! He  details his background  and physical and mental journeys through many different experiences.  I was surprised at his dedication to research, his eclectic interests and playful nature toward everything ( Ie a very open mind) .  A real bonus is the appended speech he was to give at Cal Tech on Science and Mysticism. It is a very coherent analysis which presents the material in an open fashion and is well worth the read.

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