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Category Archives: Einstein
Why did Einstein’s mother hate his wife?
In an effort to understand Pauline Einstein’s (Albert’s mother) outright rejection of her son’s love for Mileva Maric, I did some research on Jewish family values in Germany from 1870 -1900. The obvious answer might be that Mileva was raised … Continue reading
Why Did Mileva Fail her Exams?
In looking at the history of Mileva’s academic career and thinking about what motivated her after she became pregnant with Einstein’s child, I ask myself that question. Prior to July 1900, she had never failed an exam. That month was … Continue reading
Posted in Einstein, Lake Como, Mileva Maric, reading, writing
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Another Enchanting Landscape
I continue to discover that not having seen the landscapes or experienced the culture where important scenes took place is slowing my progress, as if setting were essential to the generation of words. In service of moving the book ahead, … Continue reading
Posted in Einstein, Italy, Lake Como, Mileva Maric
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Some Convincing Evidence
In my ongoing collection of evidence that Mileva either did or did not contribute to Einstein’s theories, I come upon two passages in Highfield and Carter’s The Private Lives of Albert Einstein which would indicate that she did not. Mileva … Continue reading
Posted in Einstein, Mileva Maric, reading, Research methods
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A Dangerous Liaison
In 1899, Einstein gave the following advice to Julia Niggli, a young woman acquaintance from Aarau who was agonizing over her possible marriage to an older man: What a strange thing must be a girls soul! Do you really believe … Continue reading
Posted in Einstein, Mileva Maric
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Chekhov on Writing about Thorny Issues
In a letter to writer/publisher A. S. Suvorin, Chekhov wrote, “You are right in demanding that an artist should take an intelligent attitude toward his work, but you confuse two things: solving a problem and stating a problem correctly. It … Continue reading
Posted in Anton Chekhov, Darwin, Einstein, Mileva Maric, reading, writing
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An Einstein Hiatus
I heard from my agent about the Darwin novel, who asked me if I might write an epilogue. One occurred to me immediately, a scene that took place twelve years after the publication of Origin. Consequently, I’m back looking at … Continue reading
Posted in Darwin, Einstein, Research methods, writing
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A Post-marriage Love Letter from Einstein to His Wife
At the time of this letter, Mileva Maric-Einstein (nicknamed Dollie to his Johnnie) is newly pregnant with her second child and in Budapest, likely to deal with something about Lieserl, the illegitimate daughter born to the two. Considering the marriage … Continue reading
Posted in Einstein, Einstein's children, Mileva Maric, writing
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Novelists Who Borrowed Darwin and Einstein
Darwin, an invalid, went frequently to various water cure establishments where he repeatedly encountered the same fellow clients. One such, Georgiana Craik, was a novelist of the sentimental romantic genre that Darwin himself preferred. While Georgiana never used Darwin in … Continue reading
Darwin’s Method vs. Einstein’s
As my novel about Charles Darwin’s family goes to market, I’m thinking about the differences in the two men’s methodology. Darwin was an experimental biologist, such that his home, Down House, was filled with tanks of salt water, plants that … Continue reading