Marie Curie is about to accept her second Nobel prize for her pioneering work in radioactivity, when a public scandal forces her to seek refuge. She retreats to the seaside home of engineer and suffragist Hertha Ayrton. There, the two longtime friends uncover what it means to be mothers, wives, and scientists in a changing world on the verge of war. With her sharp humor and crackling dialogue, Lauren Gunderson illuminates the indomitable power of friendship between two extraordinary women.