Details
EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955). Two autograph letters signed ('Albert' and 'Papa') to his first wife, Mileva, n.p. and Kiel, 16 November 1919 and 12 May 1924, together 3 pages, 8vo and 4to.
MONEY, MISUNDERSTANDINGS, AND THE JOYS OF NOT BEING MARRIED TO EINSTEIN. Einstein writes in November 1919 on money matters, rectifying a payment of 2000 marks that has gone astray, and lamenting the straitened financial circumstances of post-war Germany, which have reduced his savings almost to nothing: his response is to suggest that Mileva and the children should move to Germany and let out the Zurich apartment, so as to make the best of the more stable Swiss currency [a suggestion which was not taken up]. In 1924 he writes again on the question of investments, giving his formal consent to Mileva's proposal to buy a house -- a project which will prove educational for the children, 'experience is always very valuable'. He attempts to explain away an earlier misunderstanding -- 'My unfriendliness in the summer came about because I was much hurt by the letter from you and [Hans] Albert. But I now have the impression that I was wrong in that there was no unfriendly intention behind it. It is easy to get the wrong impression when one is far away' -- and attempts to encourage Mileva to take a more positive view of life: 'you should enjoy the good things that life has brought you, e.g. the splendid children, the house, and the fact that you are not married to me any more'. They should start giving some thought to Hans Albert's career: Einstein's friend Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe is prepared to offer something in his factory.
The purchase of the house in Zurich was made with the money from Einstein's Nobel prize in 1921, which had been promised to Mileva (several years in advance) as part of the divorce settlement. (2)
MONEY, MISUNDERSTANDINGS, AND THE JOYS OF NOT BEING MARRIED TO EINSTEIN. Einstein writes in November 1919 on money matters, rectifying a payment of 2000 marks that has gone astray, and lamenting the straitened financial circumstances of post-war Germany, which have reduced his savings almost to nothing: his response is to suggest that Mileva and the children should move to Germany and let out the Zurich apartment, so as to make the best of the more stable Swiss currency [a suggestion which was not taken up]. In 1924 he writes again on the question of investments, giving his formal consent to Mileva's proposal to buy a house -- a project which will prove educational for the children, 'experience is always very valuable'. He attempts to explain away an earlier misunderstanding -- 'My unfriendliness in the summer came about because I was much hurt by the letter from you and [Hans] Albert. But I now have the impression that I was wrong in that there was no unfriendly intention behind it. It is easy to get the wrong impression when one is far away' -- and attempts to encourage Mileva to take a more positive view of life: 'you should enjoy the good things that life has brought you, e.g. the splendid children, the house, and the fact that you are not married to me any more'. They should start giving some thought to Hans Albert's career: Einstein's friend Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe is prepared to offer something in his factory.
The purchase of the house in Zurich was made with the money from Einstein's Nobel prize in 1921, which had been promised to Mileva (several years in advance) as part of the divorce settlement. (2)
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