The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

Published October 18th 2016

The lowdown from Goodreads

A vivid and mesmerizing novel about the extraordinary woman who married and worked with one of the greatest scientists in history.

What secrets may have lurked in the shadows of Albert Einstein’s fame? His first wife, Mileva “Mitza” Marić, was more than the devoted mother of their three children—she was also a brilliant physicist in her own right, and her contributions to the special theory of relativity have been hotly debated for more than a century.

In 1896, the extraordinarily gifted Mileva is the only woman studying physics at an elite school in Zürich. There, she falls for charismatic fellow student Albert Einstein, who promises to treat her as an equal in both love and science. But as Albert’s fame grows, so too does Mileva’s worry that her light will be lost in her husband’s shadow forever.

A literary historical in the tradition of The Paris Wife and Mrs. Poe, The Other Einstein reveals a complicated partnership that is as fascinating as it is troubling.

I really enjoyed getting to know Mitza. She’s determined, brilliant & unstoppable, until she comes across this Mr. Einstein fellow. With the support of her father, this amazing woman travels from Serbia to Switzerland to be the lone female physics student at the university. For the first time, she’s found her place, has friends & her future opportunities seem limitless. From here, the reader gets a glimpse of how her life unfolds. There’s a trip to Lake Como, a pact with her girlfriend to remain committed to their career track instead of committing to marriage & the unrelenting society rules for a young woman living in a man’s world. Mitza experiences heartbreak, affairs, pregnancies, children, sickness, failure & success. This is definitely a one sided tale & it doesn’t paint Albert Einstein in the best light. The author does a nice job of highlighting the contributions Mitza might have made to Einstein’s career & through her narrative, the reader is able to better understand some of Mitza’s decisions. Fans of historical fiction, readers who enjoy stories about females overcoming obstacles & anyone who may be interested in the unknown world of Mileva Maric (Mitza) would enjoy The Other Einstein.

Special thanks to Marie Benedict, Sourcebooks & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Marie’s Website     But This Book

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