居里夫人

　　MarieCurie,orratherMaryaSklodowska,wasborninWarsawonNovember7,1867.Atthetime,thePolishcapitalwasoccupiedbytheRussians,whowereseekingtoweakenthelocalélitebutnonethelesstoleratedtheburgeoningofthepositivistdoctrineadvocatedbyAugusteComte.Basedonthevalueofexperienceandscientificreality,andappliedtosociety,itwasformanyintellectualsthepathofprogress;itwastoleaveanindeliblemarkonMarya.Bornintoafamilyofteachersandbroughtupinanenvironmentmarkedbyasenseofdutyandalackofmoney,sheledthemostSpartanoflives.Fromtheprematuredeathofoneofhersisters,andlaterofhermother,shedrewtheagnosticismthatwouldlaterbolsterherfaithinscience.Asabrilliantandmaturestudentwithararegiftofconcentration,Maryaharbouredthedreamofascientificcareer,aconceptinconceivableforawomanatthattime.Butlackoffundsmeantshewasforcedtobecomeaprivatetutor.ShemadehugefinancialsacrificessothathersisterBroniacouldfulfilherwishofstudyingmedicineinParis,nurturingthehopethatthefavourmightbereturned.