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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.