Thursday Feb 12, 2026
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST
Anderson Studio, Town Hall Theater
72 Merchants Row, Middlebury
Free admission with registration
The Vermont Book Shop and Town Hall Theater are pleased to present a special book-launch event celebrating the debut novel Luminous Bodies by Weybridge author and psychologist Devon Jersild. Jersild will appear in conversation with Vermont Book Shop owner Becky Dayton to discuss the novel’s creation, research, and themes, followed by a cocktail hour and book signing.
Based on years of meticulous research, Luminous Bodies illuminates the intimate, often unseen dimensions of Nobel Prize–winning scientist Marie Curie. Jersild’s psychologically rich narrative traces Curie’s extraordinary life—from her girlhood in Russian-occupied Poland through the complexities of marriage, motherhood, widowhood, and a scandalous love affair that led to her ostracization from society and the scientific community she revered.
Moving beyond the iconic image of Curie as a figure of relentless drive and monumental achievement, Jersild offers a deeply human portrait of a woman navigating profound personal loss and confronting a rigid, often punishing patriarchy. Luminous Bodies reveals a Curie who sustained a vivid emotional and intellectual life despite tremendous obstacles—a woman who triumphed against unimaginable odds.
Books will be available for purchase and signing following the event, alongside a reception with cash bar.