The Other Einstein

Marie Benedict has written a fascinating story about the Albert Einstein and his first wife, Mileva “Mitza” Marić.  So much of history has not been recorded and so Benedict has taken liberties with the few simple facts she does have at her disposal and embellished them to create a wonderful love story, that slowly shows the true personalities of these two genius characters.

Using her imagination she develops the relationship that could have brought Mileva and Albert together and also been the reason it could not succeed.  There is factual evidence of the type of society they were living in.  So the idea that a woman of such intelligence could not be successful on her own, or that she could not have it all, a family, a marriage and a career is frustrating to a reader in present day.  I definitely sided with Mileva and wanted her to have everything she dreamed about.
I was angry with Einstein for taking credit for her work and for not learning how to make their marriage work.  So though Albert Einstein is a legend in our time, this story leaves some doubt in my mind that he could have been as successful as he was without his wife's assistance.  I have lost some of the awe I had of him.  This novel paints Einstein as a smart, successful but not always pleasant human being.

Mileva begins the novel coming to Zurich to study.  She has forgone personal pleasures, including friends and parties to get ahead with her studies.  When she meet Einstein, she tries to avoid falling for his charms.  She knows that success comes at a price.  When she begins getting involved emotionally, she fears that she will lose herself in the relationship.  Einstein reassures her, "No, Miss Maric.  Surely bohemians such as ourselves - separate and apart from others with our vision and all our cultural and personal differences - can have both."  When she tries to put some distance between them, Einstein tells her he will wait for her as long as it takes.  "Never before have I been so certain of someone or something as I am of you .  I will wait, Miss Maric.  Until you are ready."

though this starts as a wonderful love story and I was routing for the success of their love story, it ends quickly when I think Einstein is threatened by Mileva's intellect.  She possibly could have been more successful than Einstein if times were different and women could show their ability.  If she had been a stronger person, maybe with a different husband she could have been the name we remember today, along with Marie Curie.

Though women today have found more of a voice in business, and they can show their inteligence and make a name for themselves...there is still a debate over whether a woman can have it all, career, marriage and family and be happy.