Albert Einstein, Mileva Maric

The Love Letters

Albert Einstein, Jürgen Renn, Robert Schulmann, Shawn Smith

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN:
  9780691088860
  9780691087603
• eBook ISBN:
  9780691215037
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Science & Technology Biographies
• Index: Technology & Engineering

In 1903, despite the vehement objections of his parents, Albert Einstein married Mileva Maric, the companion, colleague, and confidante whose influence on his most creative years has given rise to much speculation. Beginning in 1897, after Einstein and Maric met as students at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic, and ending shortly after their marriage, these fifty-four love letters offer a rare glimpse into Einstein's relationship with his first wife while shedding light on his intellectual development in the period before the annus mirabilis of 1905. Unlike the picture of Einstein the lone, isolated thinker of Princeton, he appears here both as the burgeoning enfant terrible of science and as an amorous young man beset, along with his fiance, by financial and personal struggles--among them the illegitimate birth of their daughter, whose existence is known only by these letters. Describing his conflicts with professors and other scientists, his arguments with his mother over Maric, and his difficulty obtaining an academic position after graduation, the letters enable us to reconstruct the youthful Einstein with an unprecedented immediacy. His love for Maric, whom he describes as "a creature who is my equal, and who is as strong and independent as I am," brings forth his serious as well as playful, often theatrical nature. After their marriage, however, Maric becomes less his intellectual companion, and, failing to acquire a teaching certificate, she subordinates her professional goals to his. In the final letters Einstein has obtained a position at the Swiss Patent Office and mentions their daughter one last time to his wife in Hungary, where she is assumed to have placed the girl in the care of relatives. Informative, entertaining, and often very moving, this collection of letters captures for scientists and general readers alike a little known yet crucial period in Einstein's life.

1 Marić to Einstein

[Heidelberg, after 20 October 1897]¹

It’s been quite a while since I received your letter, and I would have answered immediately to thank you for your sacrifice in writing a four-page letter, thus repaying a bit of the enjoyment you gave me during our hike together—but you said I shouldn’t write until I was bored—and I am very obedient (just ask Fräulein Bächtold).² I waited and waited for boredom to set in, but until today my waiting has been in vain, and I’m not sure what to do about it. On the one hand, I could wait until the end of time, but then you would think me a barbarian—on the other, I still can’t write you with a clear conscience.

As you’ ve already heard, I’ ve been walking around under German oaks in the lovely Neckar valley,³ whose allure is unfortunately now bashfully cloaked in a thick fog. No matter how much I strain my eyes, that’s all I see; it’s as desolate and gray as infinity.

I don’t think the structure of the human skull is to be blamed for man’s inability to understand the concept of infinity. He would certainly be able to understand it if, when young, and while developing his sense of perception, he were allowed to venture out into the universe rather than being cooped up on earth or, worse yet, confined within four walls in a provincial backwater. If someone can conceive of infinite happiness, he should be able to comprehend the infinity of space—I should think it much easier. And human beings are so clever and have accomplished so much, as I have observed once again here in the case of the Heidelberg professors.

Papa⁴ gave me some tobacco that I’m to give you personally. He’s eager to whet your appetite for our little land of outlaws. I told him all about you—you absolutely must come back with me someday—the two of you would really have a lot to talk about! But I’ll have to play the role of interpreter. I can’t send the tobacco, however, because should you have to pay duty on it, you would curse me and my present.

Is it Herr Sänger who’s become a forester?⁵ The poor fellow probably wants to smother his love in a highly romantic Swiss forest. But it serves him right; what’s the point of him falling in love nowadays anyway? It’s such an old story how much human beings think they know. You could sit and listen to them for the rest of your life and they would still be regaling you with all that they have discovered. It really was too enjoyable in Prof. Lenard’s lecture yesterday;⁶ now he’s talking about the kinetic theory of gases.⁷ It seems that oxygen molecules travel at a speed of over 400 m per second,⁸ and after calculating and calculating, the good professor set up equations, differentiated, integrated, substituted, and finally showed that the molecules in question actually do move at such a velocity, but that they only travel the distance of 1/100 of a hair’s breadth.

2 Einstein to Marić

Zurich, Wednesday [16 February 1898]

Dear Fräulein,

The desire to write you has finally conquered the guilty conscience I’ve had about not responding to your letter for such a long time, and which has allowed me to avoid your critical eye. But now, even though you are understandably angry with me, you must at least give me credit for not adding to my offense by hiding behind feeble excuses, and for asking you simply and directly for forgiveness and—for an answer as soon as possible.

I’m glad that you intend to return here to continue your studies. Come back soon; I’m sure you won’t regret your decision.¹ I am convinced that you will be able to catch up rather quickly on our most important course work. Still, it’s most embarrassing for me to have to recount the material we’ ve covered. Only here will you find the material properly organized and explained.

Hurwitz lectured on differential equations, except for partials, as well as Fourier series, and some on the calculus of variations and double integrals.² Herzog spoke very clearly and well on the strength of materials, and somewhat superficially on dynamics, but that’s to be expected in a “mass course.”³ Weber lectured masterfully on heat (temperature, heat quantities, thermal motion, dynamic theory of gases). I eagerly anticipate every class of his. Fiedler is lecturing on projective geometry; he’s the same indelicate rough person he always was, and a little impenetrable at that, though he’s always brilliant and profound. In short: a master but unfortunately a terrible pedant too. The only other important course that will give you much to do is number theory, but you can make it up gradually by studying on your own.⁴

If you don’t mind my giving you some advice (entirely unselfishly?), you should return as soon as possible, because everything you need to catch up on your studies can be found tightly packed in our notebooks.⁵ To be on the safe side, you might want to write Hurwitz beforehand to clear it with him.⁶ I don’t think you’ll have any trouble in the short or long term in getting a room at the Bäch-tolds again, as they have one room which is not rented definitely.⁷ You will, of course, have to give up your old pleasant room which a Zurich philistine now occupies . . . serves you right, you little runaway!

But now back to the books. Best wishes, your

Albert Einstein

3 Einstein to Marić

[Zurich, after 16 April 1898]¹

Dear Fräulein,

When I came home just now, I found the apartment locked with no one at home, and had to beat a shameful retreat. So, don’t be angry with me for taking Drude² in this emergency in order to do some studying.

Best wishes from your

Albert Einstein

4 Einstein to Marić

[Zurich, after 16 April 1898]¹

D[ear] F[räulein] M[arid],

Please don’t be angry with me for keeping to myself so long. I was seriously ill, so much so that I didn’t dare leave my room. Even today my legs are still a little weak. Nevertheless, this afternoon I gathered up my courage and ventured out for a stroll. I told Frau Bächtold to invite any of her boarders who feel like it for a get-together, and I hope you are among those who come. But if you can’t make it, I’ll visit you as soon as I feel well enough. And if I’m not able to go out, I’ll look forward to your visit soon.

With best wishes, your

Albert Einstein

I’ve read half of the tome already.² I find it stimulating and informative, though the specifics sometimes lack clarity and precision.

5 Einstein to Marić

[Zurich, after 28 November 1898]¹

Dear Fräulein,

Marco Besso died Sunday night.² A terrible blow for his family, but better than a miserable life.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to come over this evening to read with you. Your

Albert Einstein

6 Einstein to Marić

[Milan] Monday [13 or 20 March 1899]¹

Dear [Saud?],

You came vividly to mind during a harsh scolding I just received. This little letter will serve as proof that I thought of you.

To the paragon I give a sample (worthless of course).² Has it arrived yet? If not, then don’t give me such a smug smile. It’s not meant to be eaten. Oh yes—the letter for the paragon will be put inside the sample in emulation of famous examples³—acting boldly is half the battle.

I’m having a wonderful time at home; I’ve spent much of it tending to the innermost joys, that is to say, I’ve been eating a lot, and well, something which has already caused me to suffer a bit from ...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword, by Martin J. Klein
• Introduction
• Textual Note
• Translator’s Note
• The Letters
• Notes
• Literature Cited