THE WOMAN WHO SPLIT THE ATOM The Life of Lise Meitner

The life of groundbreaking nuclear physicist Lise Meitner (1878-1968) is given voice by narrator Sandy Rustin. Marginalized by sexism, Meitner, an Austrian Jew, struggled to pursue the field she loved, eventually earning her colleagues' respect and a partnership with chemist Otto Hahn in Berlin. Nazi policies stripped her of her position, then forced her to flee. In exile, she recognized the atomic behavior Hahn had described in solo experiments to be nuclear fission. Both scientific and historical context are conveyed efficiently as Rustin's understated performance unfolds. She smoothly integrates the visual elements of this partial graphic novel. Her nuanced delivery lets the story speak for itself, allowing listeners to feel Meitner's anger and sorrow as Hahn eventually betrays their partnership and her world-changing insight is used in war. V.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]