Throughout his life, Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a “pop star” of science, who at the age of 26 – the “annus mirabilis” 1905 (“miraculous year” for the history of physics) – presented various ground-breaking studies. One of them, the special theory of relativity, made him world famous. Just twelve years later, Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. But where did he find the strength, inspiration and free time to accomplish all this?

“Science, love and coffee” – this could be an Einstein motto. Jürgen Rehn, historian and professor at the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology in Jena, is convinced of this. “On Sunday I’ll kiss you on the mouth” (Am Sonntag küss’ ich dich mündlich) is the title of a collection of love letters between Einstein and his first wife Mileva Marić, from 1897-1903, published in 2005 .

The collection of letters is part of the edition “Collected Papers of Albert Einstein” published by the publishing house Princeton University Press in the USA in 1987. Wren, one of the editors of the book points out that “these letters had just come to light at the time ». In an interview with DW he recalls: “My job was to read them, comment on them and categorize them historically.” Wren is still fascinated by those letters to this day: “It was shocking material because it not only expressed his love, but also included scientific material from the most creative phase of his life, which he systematically discussed with his girlfriend and later wife.” .

Science and love

Einstein and Mileva Marić (1875-1948), then a young Serb, met at the Zurich University of Technology in 1896, when he was 17 and she was 20. Marić studied physics in Zurich – she was the only woman of her year and the first Serb in the history of the division. Mileva was apparently Albert’s equal in matters of a mathematical nature – is there still speculation about her role in the development of relativity?

“I love you, my dear girl… How nice it was the last time I could hold your sweet little face, that nature let me kiss you from the heart, my dear soul!” The six years of correspondence were decisive for Albert and Mileva: Mileva became pregnant in 1901 and gave birth to a child out of wedlock. Marriage followed in 1903. They then had three more children together – but divorced in 1918. “You will renounce all personal relations with me,” Einstein clarified in a letter in 1914. “You have no right to expect affection from me, nor accuse me in any way.’ In the divorce settlement, he awarded her the prize money from the Nobel Prize – which she had not yet received.

Einstein’s letters make one thing certainly clear: The physicist loved science, friendship and women. He wasn’t just a world-renowned genius. He was also a perfectly normal person.

His love letters to Mileva Maric were auctioned by Christie’s in London on December 11 – for €500,000.

Edited by: Chrysa Vachtsevanu