Einstein's Wife: The Real Story of Mileva Einstein-Maric (Mit Press)

ISBN: 0262538970

Author: Esterson, Allen

Condition: New

The real-life story behind Marie Benedicts The Other Einstein-a fascinating profile of mathematician Mileva Einstein-Maric and her contributions to her husbands scientific discoveries.Albert Einsteins first wife, Mileva Einstein-Maric, was forgotten for decades. When a trove of correspondence between them beginning in their student days was discovered in 1986, her story began to be told. Some of the tellers of the Mileva Story made startling claims: that she was a brilliant mathematician who surpassed her husband, and that she made uncredited contributions to his most celebrated papers in 1905, including his paper on special relativity. This book, based on extensive historical research, uncovers the real Mileva Story.Mileva was one of the few women of her era to pursue higher education in science; she and Einstein were students together at the Zurich Polytechnic. Milevas ambitions for a science career, however, suffered a series of setbacks-failed diploma examinations, a disagreement with her doctoral dissertation adviser, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy by Einstein. She and Einstein married in 1903 and had two sons, but the marriage failed.So was Mileva her husbands uncredited coauthor, unpaid assistant, or his essential helpmeet? Its tempting to believe that she was her husbands secret collaborator, but the authors of Einstein's Wife look at the actual evidence, and a chapter by Ruth Lewin Sime offers important historical context. The story they tell is that of a brave and determined young woman who struggled against a variety of obstacles at a time when science was not very welcoming to women.Given the barriers women in science still face, [Milevas] story remains relevant.-Washington Post