The Other Einstein

WAS EINSTEIN A JERK?

I’m surprised at the positive reception the novel The Other Einstein has received from reviewers. A number of them on Amazon have responded as if author Marie Benedict has discovered and revealed an historical truth. The novel purports that Einstein's wife Mileva was largely responsible for the theory that made Einstein famous. There is no evidence to support this. Benedict’s imagination soared on rumor and supposition. Yet, some readers have taken it for fact. This is one reason why many writers debate the issue of ethics in historical fiction.

POLITICAL PANDERING
Another troubling aspect of this novel is the political pandering to feminists in a most unpleasant way. Yes, women have been suppressed for ages, but our heroes are not those who wallow in being victims. What is there to admire in that? Where is the creative woman? The fighter? The strong character? The intellectual? Benedict attempts to make Mileva a genius equal to Albert, mostly with coffee shop conversations, but the tone of the life as it’s presented is not that of a person inspired by intellectual pursuits.

NOT SO SMART
Given Benedict’s assumption that Mileva had strong family ties and a father who made sacrifices to see that she was given a superior education, it’s not admirable that she essentially dumped on him to have a fling with Albert. Being four years older than Albert, Mileva must have realized the possible consequences of an illicit love affair.

THE GRUDGE FACTOR
This book is an appeal to our baser emotions. The outcome is not that we like and admire Mileva as a strong woman. Instead, it arouses our anger and spite against Albert. Benedict manipulates the reader into wanting to take revenge on him. Strip him of his good reputation. Throw the bum out of the hall of fame.

Unfortunately, this book gives feminists nothing to cheer about. Instead of celebrating a woman of genius and vision, it turns into a whiny treatise on how badly Albert Einstein treated his first wife.