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The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

Behind every great man is a woman. 


First and foremost, I should point out that I listened to the audiobook—due to waning attention and listening in awkward chunks, my memory is hazy. 

I enjoy all these stories coming out about women being the driving force behind their husbands' great accomplishments (the above quote holds true!). I enjoyed Hamilton quite a bit more than The Other Einstein, but it was also quite a bit flashier....I digress. I liked this book all right. The story held my attention, and it brought up some emotions. I was furious at Albert by the end for his treatment toward Mileva, while simultaneously disappointed in her for not standing up for herself more. Different times, blah blah blah, but I just so badly wanted her to find another physicist she could work with to publish her own theories. 

Unfortunately, I think the most interesting part of the book was the Author's Note, which pointed out that major liberties were taken. That's all fine and well—it's historical fiction, after all—but my curiosity is piqued. I have the Mileva Marić Wikipedia article open in another tab so I can read it immediately after writing this review. What happened to her daughter? How much involvement did she have in the papers? Was she really treated so awfully by her husband? I know these questions probably can't be answered, so I appreciate Benedict for creating a possible account; however, part of me wishes there could have been more accuracy in the novel. C'est la vie; we will never truly know.

Things I liked: 

  • Mileva. Her struggles being a female and handicapped were fascinating.
  • The first half of the book. The university and courting segments were great.
Things I disliked:
  • Mileva's friends at the pension who started shunning her. Why?! There was never an adequate explanation for it.
  • Lake Como. I suppose it was necessary and likely historically accurate but I have to confess that I was disappointed in her for going.
  • The second half of the book (not because it was bad, per se; more because it made me angry)
Things I want more of:
  • The university. I would have been perfectly happy with a book that focused on her being the only female student. It was barely there (or maybe I spaced out during it), but there could have been a really nice arc about her professor disrespecting her, then growing to admire her brilliance, and finally becoming an ally as she wrote her thesis. 
  • The pension friends. They were so nice (until they weren't)
    ! I loved them for continuing to ask her to join them even when she kept rejecting them. It would have been fascinating to hear more about their struggles as female university students, and to just hear more about what they all did together in their free time.
Overall, it was a decent book that held my attention. Now I'm off to read the real story!

Completed: 17 November 2020
Rating: 3/5
Recommendation: If you like the genre

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Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA

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