Passionate Minds B 英文原版

　　Emilie du Chatelet was one of the greatest thinkers of the18th century, a woman whose work was of vital use to Einstein andwho, until now, has been largely ignored by history. Fiercelyintellectual and passionate, Emilie's relationship with Voltairewas as radical as her thinking; only after swordfights, wildaffairs and rigging the French national lottery did the two finallyfind love together. In an isolated chateau they combined theirunique talents, producing theories more than a century ahead oftheir time. Voltaire challenged the social norms and greatinjustices of the era, as well as expanding on Newton's Laws. Whenthey ran out of money, Emilie, with her razor-sharp mathematics,would gamble in Versailles. Their progressive thinking won themonly public scorn and even imprisonment in the Bastille forVoltaire. When their love finally ended, Emilie found happiness inan independent life until, tragically, she became pregnant. Then inher forties, it meant almost-certain death in childbirth. Voltairereturned to comfort her in her last months, when she wrote some ofher most important work.