The Other Einstein

If you love biographical novels like I do, this is a must-read.

Mitza's life has never been easy. From the moment she understood that she was smarter than her fellow classmates, she never thought she could make friends. Therefore she made it her goal to become a scientist, and started her career by being one of the few female students to go the Polytechnic university studying Physics. Falling in love with Albert Einstein might be keeping her from working towards this goal, she thinks. No friends, no love, all she wants is to succeed and proof to Professor Weber that she is as good as any of the male students.

The Other Einstein is an emotional book - but never sentimental, I needed no box of tissues - about the highs and lows of her life with the famous Einstein. And about her hunger for science, her inner turmoil regarding the inequality between men and women, the thrills she feels with innovations such as seeing an electric tram for the first time, and about the choices she had to make to care for her children.

This is a fascinating, hugely enjoyable read about Albert Einstein’s first wife, Mileva “Mitza” Marić. He met and wooed her in 1896 while they were both studying physics in Switzerland. For her it had been a hard-won journey to study as a woman and an Eastern European and the novel clearly sets out how hard it was for women in this male dominated clime. They fell in love, and eventually married. But not before she fell pregnant, and, in this novel, has a young child out of wedlock. What becomes of this child ferments like acid through their marriage. Although they went on to have other children, the shadow of this first child reached through their lives. An equally brilliant physicist, nevertheless Einstein wrote her out of history, despite her contributions to his ideas on the Theory of Relativity, according to the thesis posited in this novel. Their story was a sad one - Mileva never achieved the greatness she had hoped for, and fell into a life of drudgery, caring for Einstein and their children, while their marriage unravelled into lovelessness. A sad story – but one that is fascinatingly told. Highly recommended.

What an interesting and engaging story! I had never heard of Mileva Maric before this and I'm so glad I have gotten to know her a bit through this fascinating and at times difficult story. She had such an interesting story, one that I won't be quick to forget. I know this is historical fiction but it feels like the author really did her research and because of this, really brought Mileva to life. The story is well written and one I looked forward to reading each time I picked it up. Well done and definitely recommended!

A fascinating story about the scientist wife behind/beside Einstein. In this book she fights for her place in the scientific community and works equally with her husband on certain ideas. I found this book enthralling and similar to books by Melanie Benjamin or Paula McClain. It also reminded me a bit of the dynamic found in the movie version of The Imitation Game, though Cumberbatch's Turing is played as if he is on the autism spectrum when in reality he was apparently quite charming, and here this book reverses that trend by portraying Einstein as extremely adept at flirtation and other complex social skills when in reality it is likely he was on the spectrum. If one thinks of this book as loosely based on reality, you're in for a real treat, but I wouldn't look too much into the facts. It's like the theory of relativity - how it moves all depends on the observer.

This is a fantastic history and even more fantastic novel--I couldn't put it down. I was engaged from the first page to the last with the vibrant characters and smooth as silk writing. Outstanding research (I found myself googling the lives of these characters) rolled into one great story.

Beautifully written. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and really connected with the main character, MIleva. I couldn't recommend this book enough.

The dedication his wife had for him was amazing and so sad. Einstein robbed her of some many things and I believe she is are true genius not him. He seem to need help in any theory he had. i will have to find out what happen to her after they divorced. She truly was a strong women.

I have always been fascinated with Albert Einstein and dismissed any rumblings written regarding any qualities to his character other than his genius. I thoroughly enjoyed this fictional journey through the eyes of "The Other Einstein." Ms Benedict's book was well done and thought provoking. The Other Einstein will remain in my psyche and I give it a thumbs up. Mrs Einstein is the inspirational hero , who was ahead of her time.

Thanks SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and netgalley for this ARC.

Stupendous, world-changing, and world-rocking

Metzi is awesome in her own right, and I hope young girls take the lessons in this book to heart. We give up so much of ourselves for men sometimes, but things are getting better now-a -days. This book will put you through the gauntlet of emotions and leave you feeling exhilarated about the hidden truths in the world of science.

The Other Einstein is the story of Albert Einstein's first wife, Mileva. I went into this book not knowing much about this woman aside from the tidbits of controversy with respect to her possible role in Einstein's famous works. Being a woman with a degree in physics myself, I'm a little biased when I say that this woman absolutely deserved to have her story told. However, that should not dissuade folks without physics degrees to read this. This book is not just about a woman with an aptitude for physics, but about how two people deal with the trials and tribulations of falling in love during a very important part of physics history.

Marie Benedict did a wonderful job bringing this fascinating woman's story to readers. I felt a strong connection to her, both as a woman of science and as a mother. This book brought about controversial and mixed feelings about Albert Einstein and his treatment of Mileva. There were times when I wanted to shake Mileva senseless for her choices. I had a little bit of a hard time understanding why she came to some of the decisions she did, which is really my only negative comment about this book. There could have been more insight into Mileva's thought processes during certain parts of the book, especially when it came to her children. The writing itself was a nice, steady, enjoyable pace. The historical aspects to it were captured nicely. Some authors in this genre have a tendency to get lost in the history and I didn't think this was the case for this book at all. This is Marie Benedict's first novel, and I would absolutely read others by her. It was apparent to me that she not only did her research into Mileva and her relations with Albert Einstein but really cared about her as a person.

Beautifully written and engaging story. Thank you for such a good story. I will be recommending this to my library's book club.

This is a well written, fascinating fictional story about Mileva Maric, the first wife of Albert Einstein. This follows Mileva’s life from a young woman as she enters the Polytechnic in Zurich, Switzerland as the only female in the physics and mathematics program. Albert Einstein, a fellow classmate, takes an immediate interest in her. She tries to resist, even taking a semester to go to another school and be away from him but he is relentless. Eventually she gives into his charms and they fall in love. She soon finds herself with child. Trying to protect his own reputation, he forces her to wait until after the birth of the baby before they marry and even then he will not claim the child. At times their life together is idyllic and they corroborate on papers and theories but as time goes on, he betrays her both professionally and personally.
Ms. Benedict fully develops the character of Mileva Maric. You are allowed a glimpse into her emotional state. Although a very strong woman, you understand how she allowed him to treat her the way that he did. Countries and towns of Europe are also brought to life as you see the prejudices against both Albert and Mileva.
I loved this book. It brought to life a little known woman and made her flesh and blood. It highlighted her character and also the character of Albert. It left me wondering how much Mileva could have changed physics if she had been allowed to continue her studies and her substantiation with her husband. It can be read and understood by all ages. This book does what a great historical novel should do, make you want to delve more into the people who are highlighted in the story
I requested and received this book for review from NetGalley.

Benedict imagines the life of Mileva Maric, who becomes the wife of Albert Einstein. They first meet in a university physics class where she is the sole female student. As their relationship develops, Mileva's intellect and identity becomes subsumed into the role of housewife, mother, and help-meet of Albert—losing herself among his demands. Her brilliance, once savored by him, becomes dulled since only one star could shine brightly in the Einstein household. Richly imagined, Benedict's Albert steadily and selfishly crushes Mileva's spirit through his cycles of neglect. I know little about the real Mileva, but do believe that her brilliance contributed to Albert's early successes. I enjoyed this book, but wish Benedict would have extended the story a bit longer and explored why Mileva did not finish her studies.

This story succeeds in bringing to light the diminished view of women's contributions to the scientific community (and to society as a whole) in the early 20th century through the eyes Albert Einstein's first wife, Mileva Maric. Rich descriptions, believable narration and an interesting topic make this an easy book to recommend, especially to book groups eager for a good discussion.

As a person who loves science and historical biographical information, I was very excited to get this book. I loved the first half of the book but had trouble finishing it. I wanted more information about the main character and her later life. It was a very interesting feature about a little known person.

I just finished this book, and it left me with so many feelings. It was a magnificent book! It is hard to review without giving away the plot, but I can just tell you that this story will grip you from the first page. It is the story of Albert Einstein and his first wife, Mileva Maric Einstein, who was a brilliant scientist in her own right. The reader will feel happiness, sadness, and, most of all admiration for this strong woman. I highly recommend it if you love to read historical fiction-especially stories based on admirable women in history. The author has created a splendid story that I loved!

I feel like the only reader who wasn’t wholly enthralled by Marie Benedict’s The Other Einstein, but if I’m entirely honest, the novel didn’t draw in me as I’d hoped. I give Benedict a lot of credit for highlighting a lesser known individual, but the mechanics of the novel weren’t fully developed and the actual conflict came so late in the narrative that I’d all but given up hope of its delivery.

The relationship between Albert and Mileva takes center stage in the narrative, but I never felt it a true partnership. The whole thing felt distinctly one-sided and I often found myself frustrated with Mileva for allowing herself to be so marginalized for so little emotional and/or professional return. I couldn’t understand what Mileva saw in Albert which made Benedict’s emphasis of their union rather awkward. The issue was exacerbated further by Benedict’s interpretation of Albert. The famed scientist is difficult at best, but her portrayal is so far from his cultural legacy that it alienates those with any sort of appreciation for him.

Another thing I struggled with was the science behind the story. Both Albert and Mileva are supposed to have been brilliant, but Benedict shies away from the intricacies of their studies and profession. The unfortunate reality is that interest in the novel is vested in the couples’ command of physics, but I didn’t feel that Benedict effectively related those principles to her audience within the context of the narrative. Her characterizations did not carry convincing authority and that fact made their movements difficult to appreciate and credit.

Finally, I had trouble with Benedict’s themes. The injustices Mileva faced are extraordinary, but Benedict’s presentation is nothing short of suffocating. Mileva is the innocent victim of social prejudices, sexism, and an abusive husband. Each illustration punctuates her suffering, but the episodes occur with such frequency that I became numb to them and I don’t think that spoke to the author’s intention.

I feel Benedict’s story well-meant, but I would have liked to see a more coherent narrative structure, more complex character dynamics, more detailed scientific expositions, and less heavy-handed motifs. The Other Einstein is an ambitious story and one that is more than worth looking into, but Benedict’s effort struck me as rough around the edges and while I would recommend it, I’d caution my fellow readers to take the narrative with a grain of salt.

I absolutely loved this book. Before reading this book, I knew nothing about Einstein's first wife.. She was a brilliant and one amazing woman. This book was so well-written and so totally engaging, that I did not want to put it down. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

Certainly Albert Einstein is probably the most well-known scientist of our time; but his first wife Mileva is virtually unknown. Some people believe that she made major contributions to her husbands work, but received virtually no recognition for her effort. I was ready for a spectacular novel about this woman who could have been as famous as Marie Curie. I was slightly disappointed. Firstly, a good bit of the dialog seemed too modern for the novel's setting. Secondly, I became very frustrated at Mileva for being a doormat. Over and over again she gives up her ambition and work to be a wife and mother. I couldn't help but compare her to Marie Curie. While Marie Curie worked openly with her husband, and eventually became better known than her husband; Mileva lets herself be a victim over and over again. Plus Albert Einstein comes off like a total jackass throughout the novel. By the end, I really didn't like Mileva or Albert.

Everyone knows Albert Einstein!! However this book is a tale about his first wife, Mitza. It creates a romantic love story of how they met and how Mitza was also a brilliant and fascinating character in history. However, their love doesn't seem to be enough to last all the trials thrown their way. I love historical fiction and The Other Einstein did not disappoint!!

"How did one man create the foundation of modern physics all by himself? The answer is that he didn't." - Marie Benedict

Historical fiction is fantastic way to bring to life the dry details biography - names, dates, places, achievements, failures. Stories may be the best way to stir empathy for people in faraway places and times. With "The Other Einstein," Marie Benedict does a marvelous job of introducing to readers a name most people have never heard of, Mileva Maric, first wife of a man everyone has heard of, Albert Einstein.

Mileva's story is that of many intelligent, accomplished women whose aspirations were marginalized for traditional roles of marriage and motherhood. She comes to life as a brave, brilliant, strong young woman who must leave her family and move far from home to attend college, face low expectations and mockery from her professors, and call even further attention to herself due to a congenital birth defect that left her with a limp. Her own parents didn't consider her marriage material because of it. Without that defect, she might not have been granted the unconventional privilege of studying physics.

Benedict's primary source for details in the story is a cache of hand-written letters exchanged from 1897 to 1903, when Mileva and Albert were classmates at university. He failed the final exams and ended up as a patent clerk while his classmates became physics professors, but the bigger irony is that Mileva's name was left out of all Einstein's scholarly publications, even though he was the first of her peers to accept her as an equal in spite of her gender.

Writing in first-person point of view, with the abundance of detail fans of historical fiction expect, Benedict has to use her own imagination to flesh out the narrative. For me, it's jarring to have someone else assume the "voice" of someone else's life story. It's even more jarring when certain events are presented as fact and certain words are put in quotation marks as dialogue that cannot be corroborated.

Years ago I had read Walter Isaacson's 2007 biography, "Einstein: His Life and Universe," so I came to this book with preconceptions or prior knowledge (it's hard sometimes to distinguish between the two). Both authors report that Einstein "fell madly in love with the only woman in his physics class, a dark and intense Serbian named Mileva Maric. They had an illegitimate daughter, then married and had two sons. She served as a sounding board for his scientific ideas and helped to check the math in his papers, but eventually their relationship disintegrated" (Isaacson).

Scholars have debated the fate of the illegitimate daughter, Lieserl. Some believe Mileva's friend Helene adopted the girl, but most conclude that Lieserl died in 1903 of scarlet fever. Benedict goes that route, attributing to Einstein words that sound heartless, and showing Mileva grieving her baby's death. As an author, I would have a hard time taking a firm stance and putting words in the mouth of a character without evidence that he spoke those words.

Benedict takes this another step farther than I would dare: she shows Mileva thinnking about a clock, a train, and Lieserl, and coming up with the theory of relativity: "What would happen if the train left the station not at sixty kilometers an hour but at close to the speed of light? What would happen to time? I ran through the calculations in my mind, roughing out a solution."

The scene is fascinating and beautifully written. Still, this is historical fiction, not merely fiction, and it troubles me to see an author's conjecture come across as something that really happened. A stronger disclaimer in the Notes, or use of third person vs first POV might have helped.

In all, this is an extraordinary story of a woman whose place in history deserves to be acknowledged. The research is extensive and inspiring. My grievance is that it seems presumptuous to me, or at least inadvisable, to write a biography as if the subject were writing her own first-person autobiography.

The Other Einstein is Mileva Maric, who starts out as a shy, mildly disabled, bookish girl traveling to Zurich to start college as a physics and math student. At the beginning, her story is a joy—meeting new friends, fighting back, rather successfully against the established norm that women have no place in academics, and taking advantage of the opportunities a big city has to offer. Soon she meets Albert Einstein, of whom everyone seems to disapprove. A whirlwind courtship follows anyhow, Mileva constantly surprised that Einstein would be interested in her.

And then it happens. The apocalypse. Oh, rather, she sleeps with him, and becomes pregnant, but really, the overall effect is the same. And at that moment the book seems to flip from a more progressive look at a capable woman in science to the typical woman wronged. The pregnancy and the resulting illegitimate daughter manage to ruin Mileva’s hopes, dreams, and marriage. Almost immediately, Einstein’s previously charming persona disappears and he becomes the Mr. Hyde of the physics set, refusing to see his own daughter, taking his sweet time marrying Mileva, taking credit for her work, and eventually, even abusing her. This last third of the book is a slog, and the feel of it echoes Einstein’s complaint, that Mileva sucks the joy out of everything. Starting this book was enjoyable, but finishing was a chore.

And so we toss Mileva Maric on the pile of Cautionary Tales for Literary Women, a capital I for insecurity emblazoned on her chest.

This book should be required reading in schools. Albert Einstein certainly did not want competition. While he courted Mileva and claimed he wanted a partner, it was not to be once he realized how smart she was. A well written book but a sad episode in our history on how women were treated by society. Mileva a bright woman, did survive but at a great personal sacrifice.

Disclosure: I was given this ARC/Uncorrected Proof (?) from NetGalley.com for an honest review.

As for this book... This was a good book. I appreciate the author going into the research to present to us a brilliant woman who was left behind to be yet another Hausfrau. We need many more books like this as history has only centered on HIS story. It is time to see Her story. Did you know that Albert took full credit for a theory SHE came up with and had the math skills he didn't have to prove it all? This is a book that will make you mad. But it will give you an idea of what has happened in millions of marriages throughout his-story. Because of biology, women, brilliant or no, are forced to take care of home and children while the man gets all the glory and mental stimulation while she washes dishes and cleans poopy diapers. Why is that? What could have happened had all those chores be shared while all the brains got all the education and stimulation they needed, male or female?

The story was rich. But I felt it lacked a bit in energy. Not sure how I can explain that drag. And maybe it isn't the author but rather... see my apology paragraph. On the other hand, maybe the edited version are better done. I must admit that the beginning of each chapter with a letter--was it a formatting issue? It was very distracting, especially for a text-to-speech reader like me. But then maybe those who are able to read without the TTS don't even see that? And maybe all that has been fixed by now.

Those issues aside, I think this is another book that should be required reading for everyone. Except I always hate books that were required reading. SO PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. See if you don't find enlightenment!

I've never really known much about Albert Einstein, except the little bit learned in school. I think that's why I was drawn to this book when I saw it on Netgalley. I don't even think I had a clue that Einstein was married.

I realize this is fiction, but I did find myself feeling like I was reading a biography and it was nice to lose myself so completely in The Other Einstein. I felt that Mileva was a good character that was very focused on her studies in the beginning although I did feel that at a certain point she really allowed herself to become a door mat.

This was a fascinating book that pulled me in right away. I think I'll be doing research into Einstein's life - both professional and homelife - after reading this book and that's a big positive.

Thank you to Netgalley, Marie Benedict and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Very interesting book! Can't wait to share this title with others at my school!

The Other Einstein made me take a closer look at the famous scientist we thought we knew. A sad but interesting period of history for women of science. I am very happy that Marie Benedict took a close look behind the curtain that is Albert Einstein.

Interesting, unique and generally well-written - I really enjoyed reading this book, but it left a bad taste in my mouth because Albert Einstein is presented as a flat, uninteresting character with minimal intelligence. This may well be true, but it felt a little like character assassination of someone who can't argue back.

I would give this a 4.5 star rating, but rounding up to five, despite my tendency to round down. Though I would typically have rounded down after discovering it's not really historically accurate at all, I would love to be the director to adapt this into a film, so I rounded up.

Benedict demonstrates a keen ability to develop characters, especially that of Mitza, in a way that stands out from the majority of the contemporary authors I've read. I was so angry as the book progressed through her life (which became just an extension of her husband's life), and I kept cheering for her as if she were my own friend. Though other reviews fault it for not being scientific enough, I found it to focus on the much more interesting and relatable parts of Mitza's life. We understand her passion for science and math, and her abilities for the subjects-- we don't need to be told about the mechanics of it. If that's what you're looking for, then read a work of nonfiction. This book promises nuanced historical characters who are depicted in a way that takes them out of the history books and makes them real, and it delivers. I would highly recommend this book.

This was an engaging imagining of what the life of Mrs Einstein might have been like. I liked the way the shift in their relationship was articulated. Review to follow at www.katejwilson.com

Well-written book about one of the unsung heroines of science. Bravo for giving Mrs Einstein the kudos she deserves.

Definitely one of the best books I've read this year!! This book tells the story of Albert Einstein's first wife, Mileva Maric, a most remarkable woman.

If you are looking for a book full of scientific theories, this book is not for you. This story is more about the real (and flawed) people behind the famous theories. Since science and math are not my areas of expertise, I appreciated the fact that this book was not bogged down with too much science, but more about the people themselves.

I wish is thank Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you Net Galley and Sourcebooks for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I admit to a fondness for books about the "other half" of famous people throughout history. This book didn't disappoint. Mileva was very intelligent and had a lot to offer the world as well...but she wasn't paid much attention to. I'd never even known Einstein HAD a wife..so it was fascinating. I enjoyed this book a great deal.

This was a wonderful novel. Well written, and beautifully told story about the woman behind Einstein. It's both heartbreaking and triumphant. I will recommend this book to our patrons, and it will be my staff pick for October.

This was an engaging story about Mileva “Mitza” Marić, Albert Einstein’s first wife. Going into this, I knew nothing about Ms. Marić and very little about Mr. Einstein’s personal life.

It seems as though some of Albert Einstein’s work is surrounded in controversy. There is speculation that his first wife helped with his research, however the question is how much help was she? Some say she was simply supportive, others say she partnered with him or worked out the math for him, yet others propose that some of the work was actually hers. Was she a victim of the blatant sexism of the time?

It seems we may never know the truth behind how much of the research was completed by Mileva Marić, but this author took a very interesting view into the marriage and work of the couple. It was fascinating to be brought into the mind of a brilliant and driven woman living in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

It is important to note that this is a work of fiction and Albert Einstein is not presented as a brilliant scientist and loving husband and father. Quite the opposite. However, this is only one viewpoint and one author’s fictional representation of what may have been. It should in no way be taken as a biography and in my mind I thought of Albert Einstein as a fictional character while reading.

I was easily absorbed in this story and really enjoyed it for its entertainment value. I found the author’s writing style to be very engaging. I will be looking forward to more by Marie Benedict.

A truly fascinating read. I enjoyed so many things about this book, the science, the time period and the characters.

I love learning when I read. I guess that is why I find historical fiction so appealing. This is a wonderful book that fits the bill! I never knew Einstein was married to another physicist. What a strong woman Mileva must have been. To succeed during an era where only men were allowed to, was an amazing feat indeed. Then to get divorced! She was truly ahead of her time.

The only reason I give this 4 stars is I wanted more! It is a fiction book and I understand that. But, I wanted to feel more attached to Mileva. I wanted more embellishments.

This is still an amazing and intriguing read! It is not to be missed by any historical fiction reader!

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review

I will admit that I went into this thinking I wouldn't enjoy it and very possibly might not read it to the end, however I was captivated once I started and completed it rather quickly. I kept reflecting on how much of the storyline was actual or fiction.. I kept wondering how Albert was able to hold his own during the lectures and answer the questions from his students and colleagues regarding the paper she actually authored.
Very enjoyable and enlightening. Thank you.

This was such an engaging read and I sped through it, devouring the life of Mrs Einstein. Well researched and written. Highly recommended.

I so enjoy biographies cloaked in novel format. Truthfully, I think I may have been one of a few that didn't already know the story of Einstein's first wife. From what I gathered, most of the story follows the history and the novel format fills in the fodder.

In a time where females were looked upon disapprovingly for chasing their educational dreams, Mitza persevered to attend a predominately male career choice in the sciences. We have all heard of Marie Curie (who is also mentioned here) but Mitza Einstein not so much.

Ridiculed by professors, fellow students and society she ensconced herself in the world of physics and mathematics at Zurick's Polytechnic Institute. Here she met Albert Einstein and began her journey to become a theorist in her own right. Working side by side they developed published theories although she was never given credit for her contribution. Mainly because her husband didn't add or removed her name from the submissions citing her failure to attain her "certifications" being a deterrent from the theories being taken seriously. In the early 1900's it was not unusual for the wife to blindly follow their husbands decisions and she became no exception to that rule while married and raising two children.

Passion, friendship, betrayal and heartbreak are a few of the lesson's Mitza learned during the the years the Einstein's were together. Come and read about the journey this brave young lady made to follow her dreams and passions in the field of mathematics! Even if your interests lie in other than the science fields there is a great story of struggle that could apply to any century..

My parents used to point out Einstein on the streets of Princeton as I was growing up, and interest in him runs high around here. However, while it's common knowledge that he wasn't the best of husbands, this book really paints him in a negative light. The first person voice of Mileva is heartbreaking as he takes full credit for her work (including, here, formulating the theory of relativity), ignores her needs and is unfaithful. While he gets credit for his brilliance, there's little to like as a human being. While most sources don't seem to think she was that instrumental to his scientific success, there's no real disputing his failure as a Mileva's spouse. Instead, he's demanding and narcissistic. Another hero with feet of clay, but a good read nonetheless.

I love these books on the women behind famous men. All throughout history their voices were silent. But many of them were as strong, if not stronger, than the men they helped make famous. And in Albert Einstein’s case, he definitely was helped by his first wife, Mileva “Mitza” Maric.

It was 1896 and Mitza knew she was not like other women. She fought hard for her place at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic – the only woman in her class. She was determined to master physics and mathematics – and that she did. She was brilliant! Having been born with a lame foot, she had grown up thinking that marriage was not an option for her so she had to have a career.

Also studying at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic was Albert Einstein, and they soon became a couple. They shared a “scientific language” and worked together on scientific theories. But she soon was betrayed by Albert. When she became pregnant prior to their marriage, he did not support her. As her little girl lay dying, Albert resented her time tending to her daughter. Once they were married she discovered that he had other relationships. And probably his worst betrayal was publishing their scientific theories under solely his name, thus denying recognition of her talents.

Once very idealistic, she began to realize that she could not be a mother to their two sons and maintain a professional life. This belief was reinforced by Albert – and society, in general. Fortunately she was able to express her frustration with her close friend Helene. She also met Marie Curie who was very open about how supportive her husband was in her career.

This book definitely changed how I view Albert Einstein, and made me angry. This brilliant woman was unable to fully explore her potential due to the societal mores of the time. Thank you to Marie Benedict for being Mitza’s voice now.

*I received a free copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Also submitted to Book Reporter and Edelweiss.

I found this book interesting because I felt that I learned something from it. The topic was interesting and the book was well written. I would recommend this book to others.

I have not finished this book. I have read over half and have set it aside because I am finding it so difficult to get through. I will not post reviews beyond my notes here unless I complete the book. These are notes that I wrote as I was reading the book:

I am roughly one third of the way through Marie Benedict's "The Other Einstein" and, truthfully, I am unsure that I will be able to finish it. If I were not reading this book for review, I would have already set it aside and happily gone on to my next read. I am finding the book extremely slow reading; clunky and stodgy. I realize that it is being written to sound like the 1890's, but that doesn't help when it comes to my enjoyment of the book. About half the time I sit down with the book, it puts me to sleep, literally. I am saddened by this because I was looking forward to reading this book. 

I am now over 50% of the way through the book and continue to struggle with it. You'd think that if you wrote a fictionalized account of someone's life, you would make that character likable. I feel like she is always the victim, the doormat. It's like a black cloud hangs over her head much of the time.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Being married to a genius like Albert Einstein could be a life changing challenge, unless you were as smart, or even smarter than he was. Imagine writing most of the theories to win a Pulitzer Prize and having your husband take all the credit and treat you like a second class citizen. After years of mental and physical abuse, his wife, encouraged by Madame Curie and her friend, Helene, Mileva, takes her sons and leaves to pursue her own dreams. "There Albert stood...the train began to pick up speed as it exited the station...making Albert grow smaller and smaller...Until he disappeared entirely into the ether...(96%/Kindle)" I really enjoyed this book and will recommend it to my friends and book club members.

Before I read this book I didn't know that Einstein had a first wife. This book hits close to home for me personally because I gave up some of my dreams for my ex husband as well though fortunately for me I was able to start pursuing them again after he left me.

To me personally this book shows the old saying "behind every great man is a great woman". Also I didn't really think that Einstein could be so cold and callous toward his first wife and kids. Overall I personally rate this book a 8/10.

I was chosen by Netgalley to review the book “The Other Einsten” by Marie Benedict (aka Heather Terrell). Given that fact, it has not altered my opinion on the book at all. “The Other Einstein” has a scheduled release date of October 18th 2016.
What drew me to request this book? First and foremost, the cover AND the title of this book drew me in. For some reason, this year I have dove head first into historical fiction. It’s about the only genre that has not disappointed me. Once I read the description, I was hooked, and waited patiently with crossed fingers that I would be chosen to review this book.
You know in high school, where you don’t appreciate what you’re being taught? As an adult, part of me wishes I would have paid more attention in history class- either that or take an extension on a class to delve further into history. Apparently years ago I couldn’t be bothered with things like that, so I’m making up for lost time now. Part of me also wishes that said history class would also make you read certain historical fiction books to coincide with lesson plans.
We all know who Albert Einstein is. E = mc2. He’s famous for his eccentric hair, his unorganized disposition, maybe even his Nobel Prize winnings. In other words, the higher the rise of a man, the bigger the shadow he casts. In most cases, that shadow usually encompasses the family in a toxic cloud of neglect, and sometimes abuse, whether mental or physical. The shadow that Albert Einstein casts falls directly on his first wife, Mileva Marić’s shoulders. “The Other Einstein” is Mileva’s story- the untold Einstein story, and in most cases the unheard Einstein story.
First paragraph of the book: “The end is near. I feel it approaching like a dark, seductive shadow that will extinguish my remaining light. In these last minutes, I look back.”
Mileva Marić is an exemplary woman. She defies the standards that the world has put on women. Unfortunately, the time period didn’t see her in that light. Mileva was born with lame foot, already putting a strike against her name. As a young child growing up in Serbia, Mileva was gifted even at a young age. Thankfully, her father saw her potential and was her biggest supporter throughout her life. Because of him, she was able to defy most of the obstacles that life had put in her way. Life was not easy for Mileva. Every corner she turned she was faced with some sort of mistreatment because of her disability, because of her brilliance, or because of her gender. Unfortunately, this trifecta of abuse will continue to follow her into adulthood. Typically girls did not continue their education. Upon completing grade school, most girls stayed home and followed in their mother’s footsteps; to one day fulfill their ultimate roles as wives and mothers. Mileva showed potential. Her father was her biggest advocate, asking the authorities himself to allow Mileva to continue to high school. It seemed her mother, at times, resented her. In order to attend the high school, her father moved the family away from the burial site of Mileva’s two older siblings. It is not until later in life that her mother will become one of her biggest supporters.
Continuing to be an advocate for her future, her father travels with Mileva to interview a boarding school that she would room in while attending college. A feat in itself, for Mileva is the 5th woman to attend the Polytechnic school in Zurich, but will be the 2nd woman to graduate. It is here at the Polytechnic school that she meets Albert Einstein. Back then, he was just a bumbling student, who referred to himself as a Bohemian, and slowly but surely knocked down Mileva’s walls that she had accepted were part of her life; a life of solitude and scholarship. Their friendship starts simple. Albert simply walks her home while it’s raining out, so that she will not slip and injure herself. Walking her up to the boarding house, he presumptuously invites himself over to join in their musicality appointments before dinner. Finishing her first year at Polytechnic, the girls living at the boarding house schedule an end of year hike. Einstein has presumptuously invited himself, along with a friend. While at the top of the hike, Einstein asks if he may have a moment alone with Mileva. Once everyone has left, he tells her how he feels about her, how in love he is with her, and gently tells her that he would not do anything to deter her from her studies, and steals a kiss. Mileva gently rebuffs his advances, and decides to spend the summer with her family.
While away, Albert writes to her. While ignoring every letter, Mileva can’t help but fall in love with him. What was once indoctrinated into her from a young age, that she was not marriage material, she now lets occupy her thoughts. Over the course of a few chapters, you see their secret courtship, and their secret vacation which leads to an unexpected pregnancy. To hide the shame Mileva has caused her family, she spends her time with her mother in the family’s summer home. Mileva has not only shamed her family by conceiving a child out of wedlock, but now she risks Albert’s current and future job propositions and overall respectability. Mileva has a girl, Lieserl, however Albert is not apart of her life. In a quick turn around trip, Mileva leaves Lieserl, to marry Albert, and then is told she may not return. Lieserl unfortunately passes due to scarlet fever. In her grief, Mileva has an epiphany of what will be the backbone to Albert’s credited Theory of Relativity.
What readers saw as a torrid and romantic love affair, quickly changes over to a mentally and physically exhausting relationship. While completing his theory based off of Mileva’s epiphany, his popularity grows. Albert is now a sought after physicist, being asked to move all over Europe to become head professor, head of the physics committee, and later in life the Nobel Prize winner. Whilst doing his research, he subtly leaves his wife’s name off of everything, and also neglects Mileva, and starts an affair. Although easily foiled in it’s early stage, Mileva continues to withdraw into herself.
What I loved about this book. This is an absolutely fantastic book for women (and men) but really this has women’s rights written all over it. In a time period where women’s education was not important, Mileva defies the odds. Here is a woman, born with a deformity, born a girl, told she will never be married, most likely never give birth, only have a limited education, defy everyone in the most elegant way ever written, by helping out none other than Albert Einstein with the famous Theory of Relativity. Such an enormous feat, and while reading “The Other Einstein” it’s such an enormous let down, when what should be her most trusted confidant, her husband, leaves her name off of everything.
I’ve left so much out of this review, mainly because I could go into such great detail that would ruin the book. You honestly just need to read it for yourself. What excites me even more, is that Marie Benedict (aka Heather Terrell) is currently working on ANOTHER historical fiction book. Marie Benedict, it’s quite possible that you’ve become my favorite author in this category. I am anxiously awaiting your next book about Andrew Carnegie.

I have long been fascinated by Mileva Marić and was excited for the chance to read this book. I wish that I could rate it more highly but as a scientist I was bothered by the often rather awkward description of the science itself. More than that, I was bothered by the suggestion that the Special Theory of Relativity was all really Mileva Marić's idea. There is not a lot of evidence to support that idea and that fact diminishes the ultimate power of the novel for me. It allows it to fall victim to the same excessive supposition of Andrea Gabor's writing on Mileva. Could Einstein have fleshed out any of the ideas from his Annus Mirabilis without her as his ingenious mathematical sounding board? Perhaps, but perhaps not. And certainly perhaps not as rapidly. When you wake, eat, work and sleep with your scientific partner, perhaps the flow of ideas is smoother, faster and most of all, more facile.

I found the turning point of Albert Einstein's proposed perfidy with respect to the Special Theory of Relativity paper be odd and not fleshed out because the case wasn't made for how Mileva contributed to the actual math and physics of it. Had he proposed the thought experiment based on her observation of the trains, and had he explicitly failed at developing the mathematical solution of it, along with the broader implications of the energy and mass relationship, while she solved it (which could be quite plausible) the reader would be better convinced. The way that Mileva and Albert discussed the science could have been far more sophisticated with a better science editor. Theft or just attribution of scientific ideas, or intellectual property, is complicated in collaboration even in the present day. The uniqueness of their scientific collaboration, and her struggles as a woman and mother to regain her intellectual life within that collaboration, just didn't fly for me as it could have. I wanted greater depth, even on Albert's part here. He was all fired up with their ideas, she got pregnant and he was an immature bastard, for wont of a better description, about the birth of their daughter, how hard it must have been for her to leave that daughter with her parents in Serbia, and then the very likely death of the daughter to scarlet fever. She lost a piece of herself twice over, would have been chastened that he wouldn't just marry her before Lieserl was born, and meanwhile he lost his collaborator to much sadness. His immaturity, lack of compassion and open resentment of her preoccupation with their daughter is mired in the loss/unavailability of an intellectual resource (her). We see that more clearly through the eyes of Marie Curie in the passage where Mileva interacts with her but because I didn't completely feel the dynamic and fiery intellectual collaboration between Mileva and Albert, my sense of what failed in their scientific and emotional relationship wasn't as clear as it could have been. Because most assuredly, Albert didn't have to have stolen her ideas for her role to have been absolutely essential, and necessarily attributable, in his 1905 works. The fact that he was willing to cede his Nobel Prize funds to her is a clear indication that her contributions had been of value if not also his fear that she would out him.
I was still glad to have read more about Mileva Marić, who like so many female scientists has not received proper credit until decades after their contributions have been claimed by male collaborators.thin over may inspire readers to read biographies of Marić and other female scientists.

I'm so glad that I had an opportunity to read this book. It's a wonderful, thoughtful and touching descriptions of women's life in the early 1900s. This mighty have been Einstein wife or any other woman struggling to maintain an intellectual and satisfied life outside of home and duty as a housewife.

This was a beautifully written story of love and heartache. I don't usually go for these types of books, but the author drew me in with the first page. I couldn't stop reading, this was so engrossing. Mileva's story inspires women to aspire to reach their dreams, and not let a man (or anyone, really) stand in their way. I feel heartbroken and wistful, but happy I got to know the possible story of the woman behind Einstein. I highly recommend this book!

Leaving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Fascinating and heartbreaking, this novel explores the notion that it was Albert Einstein's first wife Mileva Maric who discovered the theory of relativity and did his mathematical proofs. Whether or not you buy into that theory, it's a nicely handled study of the challenges of atypical females of the last century who wanted to balance careers with family life.

A very good debut novel by Marie Benedict dealing with the contributions or lack thereof that Albert Einstein's first wife Mileva Maric played in furthering his scientific discoveries. Although she never graduated from university due to the birth of their first child, she was a brilliant mathematician and physicist in her own right. This book begs for the reader to decide if her contributions were subjugated and her genius hidden by his shadow in order not to share in his burgeoning reputation. Even after he won the Nobelprize she was never mentioned for her contributions. Was she more than just a housewife or was he unable to share the limelight with his wife who may have been as brilliant as him. This is a good book for book clubs-much to discuss.

A smart young girl defies the odds and manages to attend University to study physics and math at a time when it was almost unheard of. At its core The Other Einstein is the story of a smart woman that must make impossible choices for the man and children she loves. Being promised a Bohemian future of love and science she chooses to believe Albert Einstein and sacrifice her career in support of him. But his ego and need for prestige gets in the way of their Bohemian dream. It is a work of fiction but it left me with an intense dislike of Albert Einstein and his treatment of his first wife.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc!

I found this to be a very quick read - I read most of it in a single day. First and foremost I think the cover is very ethereal and one of the prettiest covers I have seen lately!

To me this is a sad and almost depressing book of one of the most famous scientists in the world and how his first marriage fell apart. My knowledge of Albert Einstein was pretty sparse, and my knowledge of Mitza was nil. My boyfriend knew more about Albert's second wife (and cousin!), Elsa, than I did!

Albert and Mitza meet in class and work together. A getaway in Como leads to a pregnancy, then marriage, and two more children. Albert came across as such an ass, the way he refused to credit Mitza's work (didn't put her name on certain papers that they really authored together) and accused her of selfish and only thinking about herself. I took great exception to that. I don't know how much of his character in this novel was fact or fiction - I was a little disappointed in the notes and info after the epilogue, they didn't seem to reveal much - but I was just appalled at Albert's behavior toward his wife. I hope Mitza was able to find some happiness.

I am not a math and science girl, and "science" does not appear much in this book. Don't go to this for facts, but rather for enjoyment. An odd and depressing story, but it is written well and offers a look at a woman who was (and probably is) totally eclipsed by her famous husband.

Fascinating! I found the story of The Other Einstein to be a very different and fascinating reading experience: this historical novel is like none other I have read. The author, Marie Benedict, examines the facts that exist about Albert Einstein’s first wife, Maleva Marić, an outstanding physicist and mathematician in a time when women were rarely admitted to universities. Some speculate that her contributions to Einstein’s Nobel Prize winning theory of relativity may have been significant.

The book traces Maleva’s journey from Serbia to the Polytechnic campus in Zürich where, as a woman, she must struggle to be recognized as a serious and capable student. To that end she tries to maintain a collegial relationship with fellow student Albert Einstein who has more romantic inclinations. The author is able to weave a convincing tale of how this dedicated female student deviated from her professional goals as a result of various circumstances, including the death of their daughter born out of wedlock, Maleva’s physical health, her lack of acceptance (because of a physical disability, her intelligence, and her ethnicity) by many in society including Albert’s family, and the self-centered behaviors of Albert Einstein himself. Maleva struggles to be everything Einstein wants--totally devoted to his needs, the perfect housewife and mother, and a scientific collaborator. She finds the task impossible, especially in the face of Einstein’s professional and personal betrayals of her.

The Other Einstein ends with an epilogue which gives Maleva a chance to reflect upon her life and gives the reader a few details about her life after she and Einstein are divorced. The author adds an interesting and helpful section on her own motivations in writing the book, her research, and the extent of fictionalization. She includes sources for readers who want to pursue the story further, including original correspondence discovered in the 1980’s. She follows with a Reading Group Guide of questions that could be the catalyst for excellent discussions. The book ends with an author interview which provides more background information on the writing of The Other Einstein.

Although there are a lot of references to various specific theories of physics, a physics background is definitely not necessary for full enjoyment of this book. As a personal opinion, I think women would tend to relate better to Maleva’s difficulties and struggles than men. This book enthusiastically receives my highest recommendation.

This book is scheduled for publication on October 18, 2016.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Sourcebooks for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Other Einstein is an intriguing historical fiction about Mitza, Albert Einstein's first wife. I find the story interesting not only for a new perspective on this famous man, but more so for a view of what life was like for a brilliant female scientist during this era. The author provides a link to the the letters she used in her research and I am excited to look at them.

I noticed that the reviews on "The Other Einstein" are rather divided and I after reading this novel I think I know why.

I certainly enjoyed the novel and thought that the protagonist, Mileva, the eponymous other Einstein, was well-developed and, at least in my opinion, rather relatable, but I am not sure in how far the novel can be seen as historically accurate. I don't really know a lot about Einstein and his personal life, but Ms Benedict probably took a lot of artistic license with the portrayal of his character. The Einstein presented in this novel is emotionally abusive with the abuse gradually building up throughout the novel. He seemingly only wants her for her intellect and constantly encourages her to share her theories with him only to later take credit for her accomplishments. Mileva, from whose point of view the story is told, even uses the Phrase "why I stayed" at several points of the novel, clearly relating the narrative to that of domestic abuse survivors.

This is at the same time the strength and weakness of this novel. As a fictional biography it might stray a little too far from the truth, after all it is not clear in how far Mileva contributed to the papers published in 1905 and there is no proof that Einstein was this blatantly abusive, but I think that the novel is really effective in portraying how women in an already not-women friendly era, working in a male-dominated field, might fall prey to domestic abuse from a man who initially seemed supportive.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed "The Other Einstein" as a work of fiction but its historical accuracy should probably be called into question since we really have no way of finding the truth of what happened between the two Einsteins.

I received this in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. Thank you to the author, Marie Benedict, and the publishers, Sourcebooks Landmark, for this opportunity.

This is the fictional account of the life of an actual historical figure. Mileva “Mitza” Marić, in 1896, was the only female studying physics at Zürich university and one of the first females to study science at university level in all of Europe. She left home for more liberal Switzerland to achieve said studies and became a scientific genius in her own right. And yet, her renown today is considerably less than her physicist husband, Albert Einstein. There is much debate over the degree of Albert's famed Theory of Relativity that was, in fact, his wife's own work. This explores not only scientific and marital conflict, but the trials of being a ground-breaking and intelligent women living in a conservative and bourgeois time-period.

This novel used Mileva as a spokesperson for a generation of budding intellectual women, who are realizing their independence for the first time, and yet are still largely relegated to the home sphere. They were built for so much more and it is empowering to read, today, how much their fight for equality and their continuation in the face of adversity has impacted our contemporary freedom. If not for women, such as Mileva, our lives today could be quite different. On behalf of women everywhere, who have ever received such treatment, this pained me to read about.

This not only concerned the re-imagining of the life of this brilliant women, but was a wonderfully evocative and atmospheric account of nineteenth century Europe. This was a slow-paced novel with in-depth character studies and attention to minute historical and geographical details. It touched on a multitude of societal and cultural customs without seeming to betray or wander too far from the story and it's absolute brilliance lay in the vivid envisioning and conceptualizing of both a time period and an entire generation of people.

This tells such an important story in such a graceful, expressive and reminiscent way that it is hard not to get sucked into the story of the life of the great Mileva Einstein.

I would be willing to recommend this title through Readers’ Advisory.

I just finished reading this book and I really don't know how to feel. The book was very well written and I enjoyed reading it. However, the things that were written have me bamboozled. I know that creative geniuses sometimes don't feel things like empathy and real human emotions, but this was over the top.

I know this being fiction and all, I have to believe a lot of this was true based on the fact the author used letters that were found between Einstein and Mitza and letter between Mitza and Helene. Helene was her best friend and I know Mitza had to of poured her heart out to her.

Even is just half of this is true (after they were married) I really feel for Mrs. Einstein. Everything she was promised by her husband to be was a lie. She was smarter than him and he could not stand it. For a genius, he totally knew how to be a total genuine arse.

A huge thanks to Sourcebooks for approving my request. I was really glad that I got to read this book. Also thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I received a fee electronic copy of this book from Netgalley, Marie Benedict, and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your work with me.

This is an exceptional historical novel, based on the life of Mileva “Mitza” Marić, an brilliant physicist and in 1896 the only female studying at the famed Zurich University and one of the first females to study science at university level in all of Europe. and a fellow student and the first wife and mother of his sons, of Albert Einstein. For over a century there has been controversy over how much of the theory of relativity was Mitza's mindchild, and what was Albert's honest conclusion.

This is fiction, but based on a great deal of research into the life of Mitza and Albert, including years of their letters to one another. And though It slightly dimmed the glow I have for Albert, it certainly shines a special light on Mileva “Mitza” Marić. It is a novel - and a viewpoint - I am pleased to have been exposed to and would recommend to history lovers, science enthusiasts, and folks interested in women's history.

The Other Einstein captivates you from the beginning as you grow to love Mileva. Written in the first person, the story is captivating as you hear the story from her perspective. Well written, engaging, and challenged me to learn more about Mrs. Mileva Einstein and her later years.

An enchanting novel based on a very intelligent and educated woman. A rarity for her time. We've never really heard of her or any of her potential scientific finds and achievements. Because she was deeply in the shadow of her famous husband, Albert Einstein.

Thanks to letters between her and Albert and also her bosom friend and other sources, the author was able to piece together a portait of the woman's intelligence and education.

The mystery is, for such an educated woman, why did she seemingly eschew her education and passion to be a housewife?

Given her background, wouldn't one think the probability that she played a large part in the scientific discoveries attributed to Einstein? She was never credited as having assisted but others were.

The author is very upfront with the fact that the actual why of the seemingly obvious omission is unknown. She cautions that her tale of their home life and relationship consisted of a lot of fictional imagination. To take her account with a big grain of salt and not hold much against Albert because of it.

This is important because Albert does not come across well. At all. I found myself downright ticked off cause it really is hard to believe she was that smart and educated yet no cited involvement. Yet was her absence from the citations voluntary? Did she truly not contribute? It seems so unlikely especially as her field of expertise was different from Albert's and his infamous equation could not have been reached without some help from someone in her field.

It's very good historical fiction though because we do learn about who they both were as young people and it punctuates the milestones in the famous one's discoveries and etc.

I'd love to hire St Mary's (from the delightful speculative historical fiction series by Jodi Taylor) to find out what really did happen. Was it an epic historical cheat of enduring acclaim? Or just a piece of fiction?

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Historical fiction is risky, I admit. Authors can take broad brushstrokes under the guise of "fictionalized reality." And I like historical fiction--I've recently read great fictionalizations of the wives of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edgar Allan Poe, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, as well as a fictionalized version of Edith Wharton's not-so-secret love lives.
It's not that I didn't find this interesting; it was. But something somehow didn't ring true for me. Though "the other Einstein" herself was well-developed and forthright, the other women in the novel were coquettish and rather stereotypical. In addition, I have no doubt Mitza Maric was a hard-working and well-respected scientist in her own right......but the representation in this novel of her contribution to the Theory of Relativity rang tenuous at best.
If you're looking for tight historical facts about Mitza Maric, I encourage you to go to the nonfiction and educate yourself.
However, if you're just looking for a feel-good story about a girl who beats the odds of her time period, then maybe this will amuse you. I'm not sorry I read, and I did enjoy it on a certain level, but it was not the historical timepiece promised in early descriptions.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Most people have not heard of Mileva Maric. She was a Serbian physicist and the first wife of Albert Einstein. Based on extensive research, author Marie Benedict has created a work of historical fiction that tells the story of a brilliant, beautiful, young couple in Zurich, Switzerland at the turn of the century. Mileva enters the Polytechnic as one of the only women ever to be allowed to study at this level. She is a serious student that has spent her life speeding towards this moment with the unrelenting support of her father. Having always shown a natural proficiency in math and science, Mileva finds herself holding back because it is unacceptable for a woman to outshine the other male students. Fellow classmate Albert Einstein is naturally intrigued and immediately sets out to befriend Mileva, whom he affectionately calls Mitza. In addition to the instant chemistry they share, their love of physics makes for an ideal team to discuss and examine the most challenging theories and even more astounding, create ones that do not yet exist. After an unexpected pregnancy, distraught parents on both sides and the glaring stare of Professor Weber, the couple manages to follow their bohemian dreams to live and learn together. One does not have to be Newton to understand that every object will remain at rest or in a straight line unless compelled to change its state by the action of an external force. It would be fair to say, they had a lot of external forces against them. Mileva miserably gives up her career for her husband and family, and in turn is completely shattered when that is still not enough. This incredible work has captured my imagination and my heart. Through the authors descriptive words I could easily imagine this famous couple that literally changed the world. Highly recommend this incredible and worthwhile new novel.

Thank goodness I did not live in the 1800's..Mileva Maric, a brilliant young female interested in math and physics was different from the other girls,who were only interested in finding a husband and marrying. As she doggedly pursued her goals at the Polytechnic in Zurich, Switzerland she met the young Albert Einstein who was impressed and loved her bohemian ways. The story focuses on their love story,marraige, and both the restraints that she felt to portray her intelligence in the classroom and out in society.As the story progresses, Einstein becomes more self absorbed and she falls victim to traditional roles while pining for more scientific involvement. There are many betrayals, some of them shocking , including the fact that she contributed the majority of work on the major papers but only Albert got the recognition. A really enjoyable eye opening quick read. I couldn't put it down..

Marie Benedict takes a woman who many consider a footnote in history as Einstein’s first wife, and creates excellent historical fiction. A gifted physicist in her own right, was Mileva Maric more of an influence and collaborator with Einstein on his theory of relativity than we know her to be? Mileva meets Albert Einstein in school where she is the only female physics student. Her dream is to be a physics professor and she knows the only way to accomplish this is to study hard and don’t allow herself to get romantically attached to anyone. However, Einstein’s charm and personality woos her onto a completely different role and path – wife and mother.

Benedict masterfully weaves location, facts and science into her supposition about the true talents and gifts of Mileva Einstein. She perfectly captures the time and setting that accurately treated women as secondary in both intelligence and status to their male counterparts. And she truly built a well rounded character in Mileva, a woman conflicted with love of career and science, but also an emotional one who loves Albert and their children with every ounce of her soul. One must wonder if Mileva hadn’t fallen under the spell of Albert Einstein, would we would today be discussing Maric’s Theory of Relativity?

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict is a fascinating account of Albert Einstein and his first wife Mileva Maric. It is a blend of fiction and fact gleaned from the correspondence of Einstein and his wife.
The novel is written in the first person from the point of view of Mileva. The reader becomes intimately acquainted with her. She was a woman ahead of her time. One of only a handful of women to enter Zurich polytechnic in 1896 where she studied physics and maths. "The world of physics was where I belonged... hidden forces and causal relationships so complex that I believed only God could have created them." As a Christian her faith was strengthened by science. She saw science and faith as linked and not in opposition to one another. "I sensed God's patterns unfolding in the physical laws of the universe... I felt God [here], not in the pews of Mama's churches." Mileva believed "The secrets of God lurked in the corners of science."
The novel shows the power of family in the education of Mileva. Her father encouraged her from a young age. He recognised her exceptional brain.
Personality is another factor in Mileva's success. She refused to give up in a man's world and partnered Einstein in the field of maths and physics. "Together we would 'unlock the secrets of the universe' ." She believed herself to be equal to Einstein, no matter who shunned her.
Good friendships are important as one goes through life. "These friends... made me stronger." Though miles may separate them, a strong friendship bond is impossible to break.
The novel has the sensitive topic of infant mortality. The late nineteenth century was a perilous time for infants, many not reaching the age of five but dying from what are now merely childhood complaints. Mileva found striving in the field of physics a lifeline.
There are also the difficult topics of adultery and domestic abuse. At the time neither were seen as acceptable topics to talk about. Women would suffer in silence. Mileva comes across as a woman who put up with much. And Einstein comes across as a most unpleasant man.
The Other Einstein was an interesting read about an extraordinary young woman. I am not a scientist but I found it to be a compelling and fascinating read and I can highly recommend it.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Gave a real insight into how hard it was for women to achieve their potential back then. The characters are really well developed and believable. Highly recommended

The Introduction builds the excitement. I was interested and enjoyed the rest of the book.
The part headings are quotes from Sir Isaac Newton; which made it more interesting on reading Mileva's story. She began as the only woman in Section Six at Swiss Federal Polytechnic and only the fifth ever to be in the Physics and Mathematics Program. How she longed for more, how she surrendered to Albert, and her sense of duty was riveting to me.

I recommend this book.

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict is historical fiction at its best! It tells the story of Albert Einstein's first wife, Mileva Marić, a supremely intelligent and talented physicist in her own right.

Born into a time when intelligent women were not acknowledged, for the most part, let alone encouraged, Mileva makes her way in a man's world - enough so that she is recognized for her knowledge and her opinions sought after. Still, she yearns for marriage and a family, though she fears she can never have either due to a deformity of one leg, which makes her "unmarriageable" in her home country of Serbia. When Albert Einstein, a classmate, pays attention to her as a woman while encouraging her scientific pursuits, it is easy to see how she can put her doubts about him aside to reach for the complete life she has always dreamed of.

With time, Albert betrays her over and over, using her to gain his own fame and pushing her into the background. (It is rumored that it was she, rather than Einstein, who actually came up with the theory of relativity.) He withdraws his support of her intellectual pursuits, and insists that she take care of him instead. Einstein is not portrayed in any sort of a flattering light in this book, but again, this is what might have been, based on letters between the two of them, and also among their friends.

I knew nothing about Mileva prior to reading this book, but am so thankful to her and to women like her, who reached beyond the expected and respected notions of women in their time, and who didn't hide their abilities because it was the social norm to do so.

While it saddens me that her husband pushed her and her talents aside for the sake of his own ego, such was not uncommon in marriages of that time. Though we have no idea how much of this is true and how much fiction, Benedict does a remarkable job of portraying society's expectations of women during this time period. I found it a fascinating read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read and review an e-ARC of this book.

I'm grateful for this book because it introduced me to Mileva Marić, Albert Einstein's first wife, who I didn't know about before. This novel is a fictionalized account of Mileva's struggles in life as a woman of science in a time when it was pretty much impossible for a woman to attend university and much less for a scientific pursuit. I think my expectations for this book let me enjoy it, as it is more a character study than a tale of scientific discoveries.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was definitely Mileva herself. I was intrigued by her. I loved her strength and her disposition. A lot the times, I didn't agree with her, but I always understood her choices and that made me enjoy her as a character. She was rational and knew how to handle herself no matter her inner turmoil, but she was also sensible and made mistakes.

I wish there was more real information about her, because she was truly an impressive and accomplished woman who was torn between family life and science. That was the main theme of the novel. It went deep into Mileva's growth and her struggles to fit family and science equally in her life. She was torn between the two because of the times and all the obstacles she had to face because of sexism and ableism, given that she had a limp.

I can see this book being controversial, but I think it's important to take it with a grain of salt. The Other Einstein decides to focus on who Mileva was, her struggles, and how big her role could have been in the incredible scientific theories credited to Albert Einstein. For this reason, the author chose to paint Albert in a pretty bad light based on some pieces of their life together that were never quite explained. She fills in the blanks in a bittersweet way. I think his portrayal failed by being overtly negative without showing his reasons. So, not knowing Albert's thinking behind many of his actions threw me off, but besides that, he was an interesting character. I don't think the author did it to discredit Albert Einstein, but to show how women and their achievements have been erased or ignored in history.

Overall, it's a great book with enjoyable writing. The focus was definitely Mileva's struggles and achievements, rather than the science itself, which was introduced into the narrative in a very basic way. Ultimately, it makes you think twice about all the women that have been wronged in history for their success, but also about women who fought against the status quo and won.

This was an interesting and also somewhat sad book. Albert Einstein is a fascinating individual and when I learned that his wife was also a great physicist and mathematician, albeit without the notoriety and fame of her husband, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more. The novel is historical fiction and at the end of the book the author talks about some of the aspects .that she invented for the sake of the story. However, my impression is that she tried to hew to the truth or what is reasonably believed might be the truth as much as possible when writing this book. Mileva Maric is a fascinating woman who had to overcome numerous obstacles -- physical deformity, being Eastern European living in western European countries where her cultural origins were considered inferior, seeking a university education at a time when that was quite rare for a woman, studying physics and math, when that was even more rare for a woman, etc.

One of the most powerful parts of the book is the conversation between Mileva and Marie Curie and the contrast between how supportive Madam Curie's husband had been of her work and her accomplishments, demanding that the scientific community recognize her contributions along with his, and Albert Einstein's lack of support for Mileva, claiming all the credit for ideas and theories that she likely helped him discover and refine. Her story is an all too familiar one of the wife having to subsume her career for the benefit of her husband; while this is less common today than a century ago, it has not yet disappeared from society.

I would certainly recommend this book.

The Other Einstein is a novel by Marie Benedict in which Ms Benedict mixes history with fiction. Not a page turner and not an edge of the seat thriller, nonetheless The Other Einstein is fascinating. The Other Einstein gives us a close look at a woman who history has mostly forgotten. I was given an early copy to review.

An inspiring book that brilliantly explores the meaning of women and the challenges to cope with when scientific dreams and domestic roles collide. A lot of food for thought still actual, after so many centuries of struggle.

As the story begins, there is a sense one gets, of the author trying hard to fit Mileva into a mould, to tick all the “right boxes” as a physicist. Regardless, I liked the story enough that I got swept away in it, following Mileva’s highs and lows with rapt attention. I know this is a work of fiction, but I almost don’t like Albert Einstein at all now.

It is a good thing that Mileva’s story is being told; I did not know about her until I came across this book. There is speculation about whether or not she contributed anything to his career or the papers he wrote. But I like the idea that Albert Einstein was maybe not genius all by himself, that he had someone who was more than a footnote in his story or a sounding board for his ideas.

The plot seems narrow, too singular in focus; all of the other characters are like shadows compared to Albert and Mileva. It could have had more breadth, we could have done with more information about them, or even more about Mileva and Albert from the others’ point of view. Anything to break the monotony of Mileva’s thought train.

None of the characters are strong enough to make a lasting impression. Helene tended towards strength but got smothered somewhere along the way.

It is an important and interesting story. I recommend reading it, if only for the speculation and/or research you’re bound to begin as a result.

Rating: 3 Stars

The Short Of It:
I enjoyed this woman-behind-the-man look at Albert Einstein's first wife, a gifted physicist herself, who may have had much more influence on Einstein's work than we know.

The Long Of It:
I read a lot of historical fiction, and a couple times a year I come across a book that reminds me just how lucky I am to be a woman living in the 21st century. I'm not sure how accurate the portrayal of Einstein as a rather terrible jerk is, but I do know that his remarkable wife would've been infinitely more likely to flourish if she'd been born in a later era.

"The Other Einstein" is a based-in-fact fictional portrait of Albert Einstein's first wife, Mileva Maric. She was born in Serbia in 1875, a time when girls were expected to get married, bear children and keep house -- not excel at science and mathematics. Universities were almost exclusively men's domain, and Mileva was the only woman in the physics program when she began her degree in Switzerland. There she met charismatic Albert Einstein -- the only classmate who would give her the time of day, despite her gender -- and at Albert's persistence their friendship eventually evolved into romance.

Mileva was an utterly brilliant physicist -- at least, according to the author -- and the idea that she played a role in the development of the theory of relativity has been under debate for years, but her name is not the one gracing the Nobel Prize or the history books. Benedict attempts to fill in the blanks in Mileva's story; how did a physics genius become a child-rearing housewife whose days were completely devoid of science?

I instantly fell in love with Mileva. She's full of perseverance and never let the copious obstacles to her education get in her way -- and she's kind, thoughtful and so very intelligent. My favorite part of the book was when she first arrives in Switzerland for university and moves into a boarding house with three other college women -- who become her first-ever friends. Benedict richly describes the atmosphere of late 1800s Zurich: the university, the coffee houses where intellectuals would gather for intense discussions, and the stunning mountains and forests surrounding the city where Mileva and her friends enjoy hiking.

But the joyful happiness and intellectual stimulation of Mileva's first years in Zurich are not to last -- and the author places the blame for this solely with Albert Einstein. She writes him as a chauvinist, a manipulator, a thief of ideas, a lazy slob, a neglectful husband and father, a man completely self-interested and an adulterer. I don't know much about Einstein's personal life and I do hope these traits are exaggerated for the story -- but knowing the time period I wouldn't be surprised if the portrait Benedict paints is mostly accurate. In the book, Mileva suffers horribly because of Albert; tragedy after tragedy befalls her, and worst of all, Albert sees to it that she gradually becomes isolated from the world of physics she loves so very much. The story was difficult to read at times, but I cheered when Mileva finally got herself out of the cruel and terrible hole Albert had shoved her in.

Even though parts of the book made me so angry I wanted to chuck it at the wall, I still really enjoyed this peek at Mileva, a little-known woman who had so much potential -- and who could possibly, as the author posits, have contributed much more than we will ever know to her volatile husband's work. Readers who enjoyed "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain and "The Atomic Weight of Love" by Elizabeth J. Church should find this an interesting read.

In "The Other Einstein," we meet Mileva Maric, a gifted young woman who moves to Zurich (where she knows no one) from her native Serbia. Isolated at home because her main interests include physics, something that many thought was not something women should be involved with at the time, she is looking forward to finding common ground with some of her classmates at the university in Zurich. The year is 1896 and few women went to university and she is the very first woman to enter the program at Zurich. She meets a young Albert Einstein and they fall in love. He promises her that they will be an equal Bohemian couple but his promises eventually go astray.

I had never heard of Mileva before reading this book. Come to think of it, I knew very little about Albert Einstein's earlier life before reading this book. I love when histfic can teach me something and introduce me to new people. This book certainly does that! Not only do you have the love story between Albert and Mileva, which starts with a bang but the book explores a lot about Mileva's position as a woman and what it means for her brilliant mind and her potential career. She is definitely a woman limited by the place and time in which she lives in. It was disheartening to read about but really made me realize just how far that we've come!

The relationship between Mileva and Albert is so fascinating. At first, Albert seems really interested in making sure that their relationship is a partnership: both romantically and professionally. Mileva is thrilled because she believes that it will get her foot in the door with actually having a career as a physicist. As we see in the book, Albert becomes jealous and decides that he wants a dedicated wife after all. He takes some of Mileva's ideas and renegs on publishing her name on papers after promising to in the first place. I felt horrible for Mileva and this was a side of Albert Einstein that I had never read about. It's always fun to have your assumptions turned on their heads.

Told from Mileva's perspective, this book gave me so much to think about. I really enjoyed learning about Mileva from this book. It is so sad that she has largely been lost to history. This is a well written book that I was happy to dive into.

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 this novel.

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

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of “The Other Einstein” by Marie Benedict prior to its release. I must confess, I had a difficult time putting this book down.

"The Other Einstein" is Marie Benedict's fictional account of the relationship between Mitza and Albert Einstein. At first, the two valued and admired one another; Mitza especially enjoyed the high-level intellectual discussions she had with Albert and his inner circle. The Einsteins forged a partnership of both the mind and the heart, but does true genius need independence to shine? Though they both endeavored to live a “bohemian” lifestyle, throwing off the societal norms of gender roles and career and marital expectations, they hit many obstacles along the way.

Advanced education for women in the late 19th century was the exception rather than the norm. And that the field of study was Physics and Mathematics was rarer still. Mileva Maric, Albert Einstein's first wife, was not your typical 19th century woman. Born in Serbia in 1875, she was the only woman among Albert Einstein's fellow students at the Zurich Polytechnic and was the second woman to finish a full program of study at the Department of Mathematics and Physics. She was, in our own right, a brilliant physicist. Were her intellectual gifts enhanced by the company she kept, or, more likely, was she the one who helped to bring out her colleague's creativity, opening doors to new thoughts and theories during many hours of intellectual interaction?

We know much about the life of Albert Einstein, but very little about the life and the scientific accomplishments of Mileva Maric Einstein. While this book is certainly structured around the lives of real people, much of the story line is fiction. I enjoyed Marie Benedict's writing, and read most of “The Other Einstein” in one sitting.

​4 stars.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It is a fictional novel written about historical events. The goal is not to put primary focus on the secondary actions of Albert Einstein in this novel, but to be able to experience all that the initial accomplishment and eventual strength along with his first wife, Mileva Einstein.

Reading this book has made me want to do my own research about Mileva, as she seems to have overcome many hurdles to become the woman and physicist she was. Since the author includes a section at the end of the book referring to her own research about this lesser known but still noble woman, and even includes the titles of a few sources from which she drew her own inspiration; I plan to explore this topic further in the future on my own as well, thanks to this book.

I would definitely recommend this book to any women out there, as you get to overcome many adversities along with 'Mitza' (Mileva) to both soar and plummet, and in the end return back to being your own person.

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and was immediately intrigued by the description. This book is historical fiction focused on Mileva Maric - Albert Einstein's first wife. Mileva was very well educated. In fact, she and Albert met in Zurich where both of them were studying physics at the Polytechnic. Mileva dreamed of dedicating her life to science and her contribution to Einstein's theory of relativity is still debated. Was she simply a sounding board for his brilliant ideas, or did she in fact author some of them?

Whatever the case may be, she was his supporter, his helpmeet, she gave birth to his children and took care of the housework. On the other hand, it is unquestionable that her relationship with Albert derailed her own scientific aspirations. She became pregnant out of wedlock during the last year of her studies; and even though she had been a promising student, she failed her final exams and never finished her dissertation. She had to flee in shame to her parents' house in her native Serbia, while Albert desperately tried to secure a job which would allow them to marry.

Her marriage to Albert was an unhappy one. Their first daughter died of scarlet fever, and according to the book, Albert never saw her. Mileva and Albert had two more children, on of whom later succumbed to a mental illness. The marriage that started as a love story and a scientific partnership of two brilliant minds, degenerated into a union where two people bitterly resented and barely tolerated each other. Mileva was also deeply disappointed to be shut out of Albert's later scientific work.

As Marie Benedict aptly noted, Mileva's story is not unlike that of many brilliant women who forego their own professional aspirations and end up living in the shadow of their husbands. I also could not help but wonder, would we know the name of Marie Curie if her husband had not been such an adamant supporter of her work but claimed all of their shared ideas to himself? I highly recommend this book. It does show Albert in less than favorable light, but the story itself feels very real and I could truly relate to Mileva's sad story. 5 out of 5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing for the ARC of "The Other Einstein" by Marie Benedict. I enjoyed this historical fiction novel and found Marie Benedict's perspective of the lives of Albert Einstein and Mileva, "Mitza" Maric intriguing. Marie Benedict is writing about the character of Mileva Maric Einstein, a brilliant Mathematician and physicist who helped make contributions to Albert Einstein's "theory of relativity". In this "WHAT IF" scenario, is it possible Mileva helped co-author theories with Albert Einstein without the acknowlegement due her. The couple's relationship is complicated , and in several instances, Albert is shown to be an abusive, demanding,selfish husband that betrays Mileva's trust. In my opinion, the author is writing about intelligent women fighting for the recognition and respect due them. The burdens of family and career are harder to balance if you are a woman. After reading this novel, I would like to learn more about "The Other Einstein."

First of all, a big thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and the author, Marie Benedict for presenting me with an early copy of this marvelous novel. Quite similar to Marie Benedict, I started this novel with even less than "commonplace understanding" of Albert Einstein. Of course I know what he looked like and he is very famous for something called "E=MC2".

Never really bothered to read up on his personal life. I knew he was married and somehow remembered that he had children, but I have never heard of Mileva Marić. How terribly sad. When I received my copy of The Other Einstein, I went visiting my good old friend, Google, immediately. (note: As you know, I love books that are infinitely google-able, The Other Einstein sure is!)

Who was the lovely lady and clever physicist who will only be remembered as Albert Einstein's first wife? What role might she have played in the great scientist's discoveries? In The Other Einstein Marie Benedict introduces us to Mileva, a fascinating scientist in her own right and not just a footnote in the famous Albert Einstein's story.

Not as unknown as I presumed her to be either. When a stack of love letters between Albert and Mileva were discovered in the 1980's, Mileva and her role in Albert's theories were the center of much debate in the physics community. These letters, written between 1897 and 1903 when Albert and Mileva were still university students, hinted at a number of collaborative work between the couple.

I really enjoyed the way Marie Benedict colored in these rather blank pages. How much of it is fact and how much is fiction, really doesn't concern me at all. I think every reader can decide for him- or herself if they want to enjoy this story with a nice cup of tea or with a few grains of salt.

"The purpose of The Other Einstein is not to diminish Albert Einstein's contribution to humanity and science, but to share the humanity behind his scientific contributions. The Other Einstein aims to tell the story of a brilliant woman whose light has been lost in Albert's enormous shadow.- Marie Benedict"

This was an enjoyable read with good writing and the focus was mostly on Mileva and her struggles and accomplishments and not on the science itself. Mileva was torn between family life and science and this was particularly well portrayed. I will vouch for The Other Einstein and will recommend you enjoy this one with a nice cup of tea.

What a brilliant read. This is utterly a beautiful re-imagining. This book focuses on Albert Einstein's wife.She was one of the first women to study science at her level in Europe at the given time period. This book focuses on her and her sheer genius. This vivid story comes to life as you are thrown in to her time and place and get a glimpse of what life was like for women at the time. There were so many prejudices. For women everywhere this is such a powerful read! You see her fight so hard for equality and her own rights while standing next to her famous husband who received all kinds of credit. This novel in of its own-self is a tad but still worth the time. The book unfolds gracefully as you get to see the woman cast in a mans great shadow who was quite possibly more brilliant than him. 4 stars from me. Thank you netgalley for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Other Einstein ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ written by Marie Benedict

I found this a very thought provoking book of historical fiction. The author truly delved into the darkness of Albert Einstein. When we are introduced to his first wife Mileva Maric we learn she is a fellow student and she has been accepted to his same prestigious college. Mileva's acceptance into the Swiss Federal Polytechnics university is unprecedented in 1896. She is brilliant in her own right and becomes labs partners with Einstein.

Albert recognizes her talents and she shares many of her unique theories of thought with him. They co write every ground breaking paper such as the theory of relativity. However, when the paper is published he removes her name as a co-author and takes all the glory as well as his Nobel Peace Prize money. At this point in their relationship Mileva has given birth to their out of wedlock child Albert refuses to see.

Mileva marries Albert with the hope of uniting the family. The sadness of this book reveals how Albert used her and never appreciates her willingness to be his full partner.

After reading this story I checked out several of the issues the author presented and I must say although she embellished some areas she appears to be spot on with this couple.

This was a very interesting read and I would recommend it.

I had never heard of Mileva Einstein before reading this book and I suspect, with her being lost in Albert Einstein's shadow, a lot of other people haven't either. I was fascinated to know more. From the beginning it shows how Mileva (know as Mitza, by her close family and friends) struggled throughout her life, from her early years in Serbia, to leaving home to study physics at the prestigious Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich, where she is the only female student in the class. There she met fellow student, Albert. I was captivated by their relationship and how as a woman, she had to fight for a place in a world dominated by men. The author tells her story beautifully and I was left feeling heartbroken for a woman that should have had it all.

**This book was reviewed for the Manhattan and Seattle Book Reviews, and Netgalley**

The Other Einstein, by Marie Benedict, is a look at lost dreams, failing hopes, and 'what ifs’. What if Mileva, little known first wife of Albert Einstein, had never forsaken her path, and graduated with a physics degree as she had planned? What if she had collaborated equally with her husband?

This extraordinary woman had the misfortune to be born into a world reluctant to allow women university education, especially in the 'hard’ sciences of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Mileva had to fight for the chance, with everything working against her. She was a female of Eastern European descent who walked with a pronounced limp, and was subject to open and veiled scorn alike.

Mileva met Albert at university in Zurich. He was the first in her small class to be welcoming, and soon enough managed to sneak under her guard and into her affections. This proved her undoing, in more ways than one. A pregnancy and birth out of wedlock led to Mileva failing her final work towards her physics degree, and never going back to finish. Instead, she married Einstein, and had two more children by him. Sadly, only the middle child survived, though by that point, Mileva was separated from the renowned physicist.

This work is one of historical fiction, speculating on the relationship between Mileva and Albert, including the notion that she helped him develop the theory of relativity we know him for today. Of course, we cannot know all of the truth today, but it's a fascinating look behind the scenes of the famed physicist’s life, and an even more fascinating look at this sharp-minded woman determined to go against conventionalities. History is as relative as time; it is the story written by the victor of an engagement, especially in absence of strong compelling evidence to the contrary.

Benedict’s book is astounding. I breezed through it in a few quick hours, secluding myself from family so as to better sink into the story world. There is nothing worse than being abruptly torn from a truly engrossing story, leaving one momentarily dazed and confused by the shift, especially for mere trivialities. The writing was beautiful, always engaging, often drawing tears and melancholy. What could Mileva have accomplished, had she stayed her own course? As a bonus, the cover art is quite magnificent.

🎻🎻🎻🎻🎻 Highly recommended

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

"I want to know God's thoughts, the rest are details.”
- Albert Einstein

If the research is to be believed, it wasn’t Albert Einstein at all who was interested in God’s thoughts, but his wife, Mitza certainly was. In fact, Mitza was certain that within the male-dominated world of physics, she would not only produce ground-breaking research but discover God’s thoughts. So, why in the world do we still know Einstein’s name and know virtually nothing about Mitza?

By 1896, Mitza Marić was yet again an oddity. What is known about Mitza (and there is very little known) is that she was and incredibly bright child whose father encouraged her education at every turn. Because Mitza was a woman, she and her father spent a great deal of time and effort lobbying for her inclusion into higher education institutions. When Mitza met Albert Einstein, she had already accomplished more than most women anywhere the world could ever dream of accomplishing. She was a new student in the physics program at Zürich, an outcast among her classmates except for Einstein who saw her for what she was, a brilliant mind with insights and knowledge that should not be ignored.

Over the course of their long and incredibly troubled courtship and then marriage, Mitza and Einstein constantly found solace in their work. When physics and mathematics were the topics of conversation, the bond between them strengthened. However, when the topic of conversation was their lives together as a couple, things became far more strained. Though Einstein apparently wanted Mitza in his life, he only wanted her when it was a convenience to him or they were working on a new project. For Mitza’s part, Einstein and their growing family eventually become her whole world and she did most anything to ensure her husband’s happiness. What most anything entails are some of the saddest moments of Mitza’s life.

The Bottom Line: While The Other Einstein is slow starter, I found it to be well worth the wait. What one must remember when diving into this read is that it is historical fiction and there is no way to prove or disprove the theories posited by Benedict. With that being said, what Benedict does posit is absolutely intriguing and wrapped in a story that is ultimately about loss. Quite literally from birth, Mitza Marić was at a distinct disadvantage that never, ever left her. Over the course of her life, she experienced only a few moments of true happiness and those were always overshadowed by long spans of extreme unhappiness, tragedy, and loss. There never seems to be a moment when Mitza isn’t dealing with some sort of turmoil in either her personal and/or professional life. Unfortunately, a fair number of those incidents involved the man she loved beyond reason, Albert Einstein. Benedict’s story does not paint Einstein in a positive light at all yet pulls from the reader a great sense of sympathy for his long-suffering first wife. In the end, The Other Einstein is the story of one woman’s loss of her sense of self, loss of love, love of the little independence she was allowed, loss of her family, and loss of the little control she had over her life. For the modern world, the loss may be just as profound if you consider the loss of a brilliant mind who may have been just as integral to our understanding of physics as Albert Einstein certainly was.

Stayed up all night to read it. What a book! It has everything: romance, intrigue, brilliance, betrayal, and of course, science. This is the story of Einstein's first wife. While I knew of her existence, I had mostly heard of her as a footnote to Albert's brilliance. This book highlights what a snow-job he did on her. It's fictionalized, but well researched and justified. In my background research after reading, the scenarios depicted are certainly plausible; if not probable. The only thing I did not appreciate was the author note at the end of the book when she retracts her depiction of Albert and attempts to justify his behavior.

This book was so difficult for me to read – not because it was not enjoyable, but because I could tell that Mileva’s work and life would involve sacrifice and erasure. I was biased to love this book from the summary on the back alone: a largely untold story about an intelligent woman’s journey isolated in a man’s world and profession and the struggle to balance love and career. From the course of history, the reader already knows part of the story’s ending, making the unfolding of this drama even more heartbreaking and emotional.

Mileva faces numerous obstacles including her Eastern European heritage and physical limp with her undeniable brilliance and determination to succeed in a world that will not accept her. She struggles with her self-worth all the while being looked down upon and ignored. At the nature of her suffering is the exploration of both the corrosive nature of ambition and the danger of a lack of human connection. She suffers injustice at the hand of the time period, the intense social stigma and pressure, as well as sexism.. Having her work and discoveries omitted is just one sacrifice of many that Mileva must make as a thoroughly unconventional woman in a conventional world. Despite the odds, Mileva emerges scarred, but triumphant. Her spirit, while undergoing moments of doubt, remains fierce and determined.

Mileva’s tale is one that is both common and extraordinary; common in her experience of the sacrifices of womanhood, the role of a wife, and motherhood and extraordinary in her genius and undeniably courageous spirit. While the truth lies somewhere between the facts and the fiction, her life represents the dismissal and erasure of women not only by history, but also by men. The Other Einstein is a captivating look at the life of Albert Einstein’s first wife and explores the implications, struggles and weight of Mileva’s role as the other Einstein.

I enjoyed this book immensely despite the anxious nights spent flipping pages until the early morning. It is truly a sign of merit when I cannot stop telling everyone I come into contact with about my current read. If you enjoy stories about fascinating heroines, intelligent women who must balance ambition and society, or intriguing explorations into the dark corners of history read this book.

This is Historical Fiction, but based on a real person who was the first wife of Albert Einstein and one of the few women of her time to have an education in Physics. Her name was Mileva Marić.

The story is told in first person and for me seemed very realistic, showing Mileva's background, interaction with parents and thoughts about achieving her educational ambitions, as well as her cultural influences in dealing with expectations for women, the interest of Albert Einstein, and her treatment at the Polytecnic in Switzerland where she studied as well as her belief that a foot deformity made her 'unmarriageable'.

I found the author's voice very engaging and soon got caught up in her tale, even looking up a few mentions of Mileva's life on Wikipedia. The story is mostly fiction based on bare bones scaffolding of known facts, yet it felt very plausible all the way through. Albert's personality came across as witty and charming in the beginning and I half fell in love with him myself, but later in the story he becomes an unsympathetic character which might be less than fair to him. Still, looking up what facts are known, why didn't he ever meet his daughter? Why did the relationship go awry in a time when divorce held almost as much stigma as unwed motherhood?

Anyone who has been in a relationship that went wrong will recognise the pattern of how these things often happen. Whether Albert used his wife's ideas and took full credit is something history and science will probably never be able to answer, but in the time and place where it is set, it is easy to imagine that any contribution from an intelligent female would likely be subsumed by a husband with the proper qualifications.

Mileva's life is not a happy one and history doesn't give us a happy ending for her, but I very much enjoyed reading this story. Factual or not, the writing was very engaging and 'm glad to know of the existence of this woman whom I had never heard of before. Whatever contributions she might or might not have contributed to Einstein's theories, she stands out as a strong woman in history who dared to step into the male preserve of higher education, helping to forge the way for many women in generations to come. I will definitely be interested in anything else this author writes.

This is a thoughtfully written book about the woman behind the man, Mileva Einstein, Albert Einstein’s first wife. I’ve read other such books such as Zelda and the Paris Wife, accomplished wives that get lost in their husbands’ shadows, a typical sign of their sexist times and I was hoping this one would be just as captivating. It certainly was for me. I had never given thought to Einstein’s wife’s existence so want to thank Marie Benedict for telling Mileva’s fascinating story, even if she does speculate at times. There is no doubt that Mileva was extraordinary – a woman ahead of her time, a brilliant physicist who made contributions to science. The couple’s relationship is fascinating and shows a very dark side of Einstein that I was not expecting. Thanks to Marie Benedict for providing her interesting perspective into the relationship and personalities of Mileva and Albert. (have also posted on Twitter and Powells but didn't include in links below).

If there’s one criticism of this book, it’s that it’s just too short. Once I’d turned the final page (well, went back to the Kindle carousel on my tablet), I just wanted to read more. Marie Benedict has clearly done a fantastic job – I want to know so much more about Mileva Maric!

This was a solid outing by Benedict. Shines light on the struggles of women and how others used their minds for their personal gain. This is a must read for strong women.

Very much like the Paris Wife, this book tells the story of Albert Einstein's first wife. A woman who broke barriers trying to become a physicist. Although fiction, it is based on letters between the two. I found the book hard to put down, and after reading it I wanted to find out more about the true lives of both characters.

Book Blurb from Goodreads.com:


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.


My Review:


Mileva Maric was the only female student studying physics at a prestigious university in Zurich in 1896. It is here that she met a young student in her class named Albert Einstein. Albert takes an interest in her, and a romantic relationship evolves between them. This book details how their relationship changes over time


Written in the voice of Mileva, this historical novel is about the difficulties she encountered while married to Einstein. What starts as a young exciting relationship turns into an abusive neglectful one. Mileva sacrificed her own career dreams by catering to the needs of her husband and family. The book delves into how Mileva eventually felt she was living in Einstein’s shadow. It has been speculated that she contributed to the theory of relativity but her named was omitted by Einstein.


This is an interesting story of love, loss and science. Readers are spoonfed real history about Einstein while watching this drama unfold. I came away with a better appreciation for the contribution from both of these individuals.


Einstein is known as a genius, but as the saying goes, behind every great man is a great woman.

I have been hard at work in getting my new website up and running. I have been planning and learning things beyond my capacity. I am hoping that if all goes well I can launch on January 1, 2017. In the meantime, I will still be posting reviews, but to a lesser extent. I am happy to announce a new feature called, Woman Crush Wednesday. I hope to showcase great women in books - whether real or created characters. And on to the review...

THE OTHER EINSTEIN
Written by Marie Benedict
October 18, 2016; 304 Pages
Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: historical fiction, fictionalized biography

(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.)

★★★★

While I do not understand physics and mathematics, I have always been fascinated by the women and men who excel in the field. Einstein has always seemed like a fascinating character, but I have not actually read anything on him. Other than him being brilliant I have not heart much about his personality. When I saw this novelized biography of Einstein's first wife I figured, why not?

Mileva “Mitza” Marić at the age of 20, went to Zürich University to get her degree in physics. In 1896, women were getting married and having children, as their family dictated. Mitza's father sees his daughter only excelling in school. It is due to his efforts to get her educated that she attends an elite school that has not let many women through their doors. Once accepted into the program she must also get the acceptance of her peers and professors. With her brilliant mind and hard work she is able to impress fellow student, Albert Einstein. As the two study together they become closer and Mitza must decide if she can be a wife and a scientist.

I had not heard of Mileve Maric before I read this novel, and it has been my loss. This women with a slight limp and a powerful mind is a true inspiration woman. I can only imagine how much she must have endured in her life to do something she was good at but was frowned upon. Also, her limp has been brought up a few times in the book. It has been equated to a deformity. It seems a bit harsh but that was what it was like in those times, and what some people thought. Since finishing the novel, I have Googled to find more information and hope to find a biography to read.

Now, the novel is based on real people but it is a fictionalized version. Benedict has taken liberties with the facts to write a beautiful novel. I started this novel on Saturday night but had work the next day so I had to put it aside. Once I got home, I read till I finished the book. Then with every book that touched me, I held it while I processed it all through my mind. Benedict has a way of taking a reader to the time and place of the setting but also into the mind of the characters. I went in thinking I would learn a bit more about Einstein but instead came away with great admiration for Mitza. This novel is about Mitza, not Albert, so you get her perspective and and her life. Albert was portrayed as a bit of a...jerk. That is because using facts, Benedict has given us Mitza's side of the story. I know some readers had a problem with this novel not be more "factual" about the Einsteins. For me, I love a good story...if it is a fictionalized story of a real person it leads me to read a biography or memoir. I read this book for entertainment, if you will, and The Other Einstein delivers!

In 1896 Mileva Maric leaves home to go to the Swiss Federsl Polytechic in Zurich to study physics. Her family and close friends call her Mitza. Mitza is the only female student in the physics department. Mitza was Borneo with a defective hip so she didn't think that she would ever marry and have children. Due to this thought, she decided to forget a traditional life and immerses herself in her studies. When a student named Albert notices her, she finally decides to allow herself to have some fun with him. She ends up going off with him and becomes pregnant. She goes home to have her baby. Her mother convinces her to go back to Albert. She imagines bringing her daughter to live with them and having a family only to discover it was only a dream. While Albert receives recognition, she is forgotten. Partly due to has charismatic personality and his single focus on science, Mitza is repelled and attracted to him.

The novel is written with Albert as a main character besides Mitza but is focused on Mitza's life experience.it is an amazing story about a woman in science who was forgotten. It is possible that Mitza was an important part of developing his theory of relativity. It has made me want to take the time to look into the facts of Mitza Einstein's life. It is a great historical fictional story.

Beautifully written novel on a fairly untouched subject. Women in society and science. An excellent read. Please keep an eye out for my full review, 2017.

This is a reminder that women have come a long way in the acknowledgement of their peers as great minds. Einstein was a genius ( with a little help from his wife)!

I found myself doing a lot of fact checking and having several "oh wow" moments! I have to say it changed my opinion of him and had me wondering just how much of this did she actually experience. How many battles did she fight and what a woman! I loved it! Beautiful and captivating!

The Other Einstein
By Marie Benedict

Mileva Marić was determined to master both physics and mathematics. In 1896 the Swiss Federal Polytechnic university in Zürich, Switzerland was one of the few places that allowed women to enter its doors of higher education and earn a degree. In a world that frowned upon women pursuing education Mileva had another strike against her - her Serbian heritage.

She was resigned to the life of an academic but then she met Albert Einstein and her life and history were forever altered. As a fellow student at Polytechnic Albert Einstein forced, through persistence, his way into Mileva's life. But academia and romance were not an option for a woman intent on pursuing the higher sciences and science was the passion that Mileva's heart desired.

But when Albert pulled her into the world of intellectual discussion with her fellow students a new world of thought and collaboration opened before her. And for the first time in her life Mileva considered the possibility of a life that held the promise of both science and marriage.

When Albert promises her a life as his equal Mileva allows herself to be swayed be his unique and disheveled charms. But loving a genius is no easy task as Mileva soon discovers. And the sacrifices she makes for her role in the collaboration of Ein Stein as her husband references them will have a marked effect on her life.

The Other Einstein is a look at a marriage that is at times beautiful and at other times troubling. It would be interesting to see how different Mileva's life would have been had she been born in a different time or if she had crossed paths with Albert Einstein only as a fellow student. His was an overpowering and oppressive personality that Mileva too late recognized. He was too busy blaming others for his problems when it likely could be laid at his own lack of personal drive and ego.

The Other Einstein focuses on Mileva and her thoughts and feelings but it is obvious that the man who promised to treat her as an equal resented her role in his success and was determined to keep her and contributions hidden away in the shadows. But Mileva was a woman who overcame obstacles throughout her life and Albert's unexpected change was the latest to overcome.

This is a book that adds a hidden facet to the life of Albert Einstein and world that he called his own. Historical fiction can be a tricky subject to tackle and Marie Benedict manages to not only conquer it but make it fascinating as one leaves one century behind for another.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinions.

Fictional account of Albert Einstein's marriage to his first wife, Mitza. Was she the brains and force behind his theory of relativity?

Born in Serbia, an extremely misogynistic country, Mileva (Mitza) Maric was only the 5th female student to study Physics and Mathematics in Switzerland in 1896. While there, she met Albert Einstein. Born with a hip deformity, Mitza walked with a limp and her parents doubted that she would ever marry. For this reason, Mitza's father very much encouraged her studies even when it went moving to another country and venturing out on her own:

"You tirelessly maintain your velocity through life unless you are acted upon by an outside force. I hope no outside force ever changes your velocity." - Mitza's father

While living at girl's home, she finally met like-minded women and had her first real friendships:

"These friends didn't take away my resolve to succeed as I'd feared. They made me stronger." - Mitza

In fact, she made a pact with her friend, Helene, a history major, that they would continue their studies no matter what and not marry. But, alas, they both fell in love: Mitza with Albert Einstein and Helene with another student. Einstein promised a bohemian and collaborative lifestyle, but instead, used Mitza for her mathematical abilities, refusing to include her name on scientific papers and contracts.

The first quarter of this book was interesting, and I enjoyed learning about women of this time period fighting for their right to study and was excited to learn more. At the halfway point, the book seemed to be veering towards a romance (with Mitza's biggest decision being whether or not she should go away on a trip with Einstein and sleep with him), but luckily, the story took another turn and finally got to the meat of Mitza's story and her relationship with Einstein. I won't go into details here because I don't want to ruin the story for others, but wow was I shocked by Einstein's (alleged) behavior and treatment of Mitza and his children. I enjoyed the author's writing style and the last half of this book was very powerful. In the wake of the Clinton/Trump election of 2016, this book felt very timely.

"Fame had left Albert with little interest in his wife, that I worried his desire for notoriety would overtake any humanity remaining within him." Mitza

"I became swept up in his direction and velocity, and his force became my own... Until I could stand Albert's force no more. The third law of motion triggered, and I exerted a force equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to his. I took back the space that belonged to me." - Mitza re: Einstein

A note by the author at the beginning of this book stated that the story is based loosely on letters exchanged between Mitza and Einstein which were discovered in the 1980s. The actual life of and conversations between Mitza and Albert are speculative, but in my opinion, it does not take anything away from the subject of this book.

In the author's note at the end, Marie Benedict notes that she was first inspired to write about Mitza while reading the children's book Who Was Albert Einstein? with her son when it briefly mentioned that his first wife, Mitza, was also a physicist. She also stated that: "[Mitza's] story was, in many ways, the story of many intelligent, educated women whose own aspirations were marginalized in favor of their spouses. I believed it was time that stories such as these were told."

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

While there is a dark edge to this book, it gives an honest representation of the times.
Women were seen as "less than" and "inferior." Something as minor as a physical limp or speech impediment could rob one of opportunities. However, although it was not common for females to obtain an education, there were also some enlightened parents who encouraged their children (daughters) to reach for more. In many ways, this book reflects situations that are still present in our societies today.

Mileva, who would become the wife of reknowned and self important, Albert Einstein, was both one of a few, with similar traits to Madame Marie Curie, and one of a kind. She loved her children fiercely and would give her life for them, in many ways did, but she also gave into the forces opposing her and bent to the will of Albert Einstein.
How much does it take before a woman, a person, says ENOUGH!
Was she really the genius behind the man? Close friends admitted they recognized her work in papers attributed to her husband.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy memoirs and historical novels, to those who read celebrity gossip, and to those who value strong women.

I did accept a copy of this book from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review

Mileva Maric – a name I’ll not soon forget! She is definitely someone to research further, someone for scientists and thinkers today to learn from.

Mileva was Albert Einstein’s first wife, and through Ms. Benedict’s eyes, we get a glimpse of what their life might have been. This is a very precarious task, as with all historical fiction, for author and reader must be careful not to override or twist the reality they are building from. Ms. Benedict does a fantastic job of creating the time period in which the two would have met – the depth of research and care for her subject is evident!

As a highly intelligent woman who fought for every inch of learning she could achieve, it is a shame students don’t learn about Mileva and her work like they do Albert’s, or even other noted women scientists throughout history. She is definitely a role model for pushing yourself to your highest potential, and never letting the nay-sayers get in the way of your goal.

A very interesting read that makes the reader want to dig deeper!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher through NetGalley

Like many in our society, when I hear the name "Einstein", my thoughts immediately go to the Nobel prize-winning intellectual with wiry hair and revolutionary theories of how our universe is held together. Through Albert Einstein's studies, the understanding of time itself has been altered irrevocably. In Marie Benedict's novel The Other Einstein, we are given a peek into the personal life of such a revered figure, and come to see him for the human he truly was. Not only that, Benedict gives voice to that of Albert's first wife, Mitza Maric, an accomplished student of physics in her own right, whose perspective has largely been unrevealed, until now. Through thorough research and a bit of artistic license, Marie Benedict crafts a sweeping tale of a remarkable woman who traverses the difficult waters of academia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Mitza Maric was not a typical woman of her era. Beset with a limp as well as a keen intellect, it was assumed by her father that she would go on to never marry, yet also achieve things most women would not. Given an excellent education, she eventually finds herself in class with none other than Albert Einstein, who at the time was just another physics student like herself. Charming and keenly smart, they become friends and later, lab partners.

At this point in the story, I expected a typical boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-regains-girl type of narrative, albeit infused with occasional mentions of physics, mathematics, and even a bit of philosophy. Fortunately, I was ignorant of Mitza's biography, so I was taken by surprise at the course her life took. I won't reveal the extent of her journey and transformations, but suffice it to say, they were remarkable. Marie Benedict's writing was effortless and had me quickly upending pages to determine where Mrs. Einstein's life would end up next. As a Christian I appreciated Mitza's interest in finding God's hand within mathematics and physics. As a wife and mother I was heartbroken over so many of the trials she had to face. Mrs. Einstein was a truly unique character, yet she had many aspects of her personality that I found imminently relatable.

The Other Einstein was a compelling and thought-provoking novel, one that I read in just a few sittings. The chapters flew by quickly, and I was almost sad to see them end. I wish that there had been a bit more about Mitza's life in her latter days, but I understand that Benedict was doing her best to stay true to history, and I assume there isn't much material related to those later years. I also enjoyed the romantic early days of the Einsteins', and appreciated the fact that intimate details were kept to a minimum. A steamy love scene or two could have easily been inserted into the plot, but Marie's writing is strong enough that such material wasn't needed. Although there are adult situations in her story (and one mere curse word that I can recall), The Other Einstein would make an excellent read for my conservative readers, as well as those with even a mild interest in science or mathematics.

A few years ago I read another book of Marie Benedict's, Brigid of Kildare, written under the name Heather Terrell. While I enjoyed that novel, I think I relished The Other Einstein even more. I applaud Marie in her continuing work, and give her latest novel an enthusiastic recommendation.

Historical fiction is where I often go when I need a break from science fiction and fantasy. There is something about learning more about the past that I just love without the dryness of most history books. While I know it might not be completely true, there is always something to learn. I’m always interested in hearing about the women that were in the shadow of big historical figures, so I was instantly drawn to The Other Einstein.

I always love stories of women that buck the trend of their time. Mitza does it in spades. She is the only woman studying physics at a university. She is from an area of Europe that is looked down upon. Plus a birth defect of her hip means she walks with a slight limp. While she is a genius and that certainly pushed her to science, her father also knew the limp would make her un-marriageable and fostered her learning from an early age. But all of this success doesn’t mean that Mitza is confident in herself. Far from it. And that is what truly makes The Other Einstein shine.

We meet Mitza when she starts at university as one of the first women to study physics there. She is navigating not only school and the prejudices against her, but also building friendships at her pension, and the unlikely friendship and romantic overtures from Einstein. We follow her and Einstein throughout school until their relationship culminates in a weekend away. Up until this point, their relationship was as equals in science.

But then Mitza’s life is turned upside down. Einstein can’t find a job, their marriage is put off, and a big arrival makes Mitza’s schooling almost impossible. After a difficult time, they are finally wed and continue to work on big theories. But then tragedy hits. And we begin to see more of Albert’s selfishness.

After the tragedy, Mitza has an epiphany and they work furiously on the theory of relativity (one of the things that makes Albert famous). Mitza and Albert submit a paper for publication with Albert as the main writer and Mitza as a contributor even though it was her theory. But when the publication comes, it only has Albert’s name on it. This begins a downward spiral in their relationship. Albert’s star continues to rise while Mitza is pushed farther and farther out of the picture. The spiral cumulates at the end of the book when we finally see Mitza become the young woman we met at the early on in the book.

Overall rating of The Other Einstein
This is a book about relationships, science, and the lengths that people will go for not only love, but what they think they should have. I would recommend this book to anyone. Go pick it up.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
c/o Netgalley

Mitza Maric was an anomaly in her hometown. She was a young woman with a handicap that made her “not marriage material” in everyone’s eyes and she was intelligent, which in her time period also seemed to be a strike against her. She was, however, fortunate enough to have a father who not only adored her but nurtured and applauded her intelligence. So, when other young girls her age were marrying and starting families Mitza was moving to Zurich to attend the University to study physics.

While it took her a long time to fit in with most of her fellow (all male) students she did find kindred spirits in the other girls residing at her boarding house, other females also pursuing an education. Her professor continued to single her out and often ridicule her but the other students begin to understand her intelligence and reluctantly accept her … particularly one young man name Albert Einstein.

Friendship soon turned to more and after many obstacles to their relationship they married. With two such brilliant minds the physics theories couldn’t help but flow freely. But were the ideas all Albert’s or did Mitza have a significant contribution to his brilliance? That is the question Ms. Benedict poses in this work of historical fiction.

As is expected much is known about Albert Einsten, but Mitza seems to have been ignored by history books in favor of her husband and his second wife. Ms. Benedict writes a very believable and entertaining story based on the supposition that Mitza not only contributed to Albert’s genius but also may have come up with some of the theories always accredited to him. She also gives plausible explanations as to how this may have come about. All these things combined made for a very interesting read.

Historical fiction is by its very description supposition involving dialogue that no one could have recorded and private moments that can only be guessed at. Ms. Benedict seamlessly blends these fiction aspects into the time period and what is known about Einstein. While reading “The Other Einstein” I never once shook my head with the thought “no way!” In fact, often the opposite was true and I found myself getting angry at the circumstance Mitza endured. Much in the same way one cannot imagine one’s parents as young lovers, where I had to suspend disbelief, the most was with the descriptions of the wild haired genius as a young man passionately pursuing the woman he loved. Of course, given his history with women Ms. Benedict did an admirable job of that side of Einstein as well.

Science was a major part of their early relationship and commonality, but Ms Benedict approached that aspect in a very readable manner. Sometimes the theories were out of my grasp but that in no way bogged down the story instead only served to emphasize just how brilliant Mitza was.

Good historical fiction read. I would certainly not hesitate to seek out another of her books.

“I received this book at no charge from the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, via Netgalley in the hope of receiving an honest review.”

This book a brilliant read especially for lovers of the Paris Wife.
It tells the story of Mileva Marie an Austro-Hungarian women who became the first wife of Albert Einstein.
Brilliant in her own right in the field of hard mathematics she met Albert Einstein at university in Zurich in the later part of the 19th century. .This was at a period in time when women were supposed to remain in the home and not follow a life in education.
This story is not only a love story but a story of betrayal by the man she loved to further his own ambitions. It purports that she was an integral factor in Albert Einstein,s theory of relativity which made him famous but that Einstein removed her name from the paper before it was submitted.
A fantastic novel which is well researched. it demonstrates how women in the early part of the 20th century had to fight so hard for everything they achieved and how easily they were deprived of their rightful place in society by the patriarchal state of the world at that time.

For me, this was an easy read. The main character, Mitza Maric was very relatable and the story was engaging. Mitza was a physic student at the same university and in the same program and classes as Albert Einstein. She started out as friends with Einstein but it gradually turned into more. Unfortunately, Einstein who at the beginning of their relationship treated her as an equal in mind and spirit and wanted a bohemian lifestyle together where they worked on the big physics theories of the times changed when she became pregnant out of wedlock. He seemed to care more about his reputation than about her and the baby, would not visit her or the baby and did not marry her until almost 2 years after the baby was born but never saw the child or allowed the child to live with them. He definitely seemed to lack empathy and was very self-absorbed especially after the death of his first child who he never even saw. Mitza's studies suffered due to her relationship with Einstein and the unplanned pregnancy and she ended up failing her final exams and not getting her degree. The life she wanted was pretty much ruined by Albert Einstein and she had to bend to Einstein's wishes and demands to get him to marry her to legitimize her child and save her reputation and give her children a father. She seemed very trapped by society's views on gender roles and social norm of the time. The more Einstein's reputation and fame grew the less time and respect he gave to his wife and family. The theories that she and Einstein worked on together only ended up with his name on them. This book is a work of fiction but the author did base the ideas and plot of the story from the letters the Einsteins wrote to each other and their friends and colleagues so there is no definitive proof that Mitza did collaborate or actually came up with any of Einstein's theories and deserves credit. But there is proof that Albert Einstein was not much of a people person and did have expectations that Mitza would be a housewife and not an equal towards the end of their relationship. I did not know anything about Albert or Mitza Einstein's life but this book encouraged me to read and research more about them and the controversies surrounding them and their relationship. Albert Einstein was put up on a pedestal by the world for his groundbreaking theories that changed science forever but he was a very flawed human being who I wanted to strangle many times while reading this book..

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

I received ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Although this is a fictionalized account of Einstein's first wife, Mileva “Mitza” Marić, it reads almost like an autobiography. Mitza was a brilliant scientist living in the shadow of her remarkable husband. Sign of the times, I guess.

3 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing, for the powerful novel "The Other Einstein", by Marie Benedict. This book really threw me for a loop! Dare I say that I am much less of an Albert Einstein fan any longer?! I recommend this novel, as it is the story of Albert Einstein's wife, Mileva “Mitza” Marić, whom was a brilliant scientist herself. A powerful woman in her youth, overcoming endless obstacles to study in a most prestigious university. Mitza's and Albert's love was a powerful force, which built Mitza up, then gradually destroyed her. I feel rage for her lack of acknowledgement, as it appears that Albert Einstein would not have become the popular scientist that he's ultimately become, without her.