Banned from going to university because she was a woman, Marie Curie attended chemistry classes in secret. Lucky for us too, because if it wasn't for her research into radioactivity, we would be without many of modern medicine's lifesaving treatments. She soon showed that she was as capable as any man: she discovered two new elements, treated injured soldiers on the Front Line during the First World War and became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, not just once but twice! Find out how Marie Curie challenged the world's expectations of women and became one of the most influential scientists in history.

• Use as a stimulus to discuss topics ranging from feminism and the role of women in history to medicine and the treatment of disease
• Introduce readers to autobiography as a genre and investigate the advantages and disadvantages of this style of writing
• Explore questions relevant to Citizenship and PSHE including discrimination, self-belief and perseverance in the face of adversity

'Famous Biographies' delve deep into the past to explore the fascinating lives of people whose discoveries have shaped today's world. The first person accounts help to foster an early interest in the history by immersing the reader in a personal narrative. Vibrant illustrations, clear explanations and easy-to-read text make potentially complex subject matter accessible and engaging. A timeline sets the autobiographical narrative in context and invites cross-curricular discussion of social, political and cultural topics.