conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know a description for a book titled The Other Einstein about Boston, York, City with the genre: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction? End with the sentence ' She is a graduate of Boston College and the Boston University School of Law, and lives in Pittsburgh with her family.'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Once a New York City lawyer, the author had long dreamed about a fantastical job unraveling the larger mysteries of the past as an archaeologist or historian -- before she tried her hand at writing. While drafting her first book, she realized that she could excavate the possible truths lurking in history through fiction, and has done so in THE OTHER EINSTEIN, the story of Mileva Maric, Albert Einstein's first wife and a physicist herself. Writing as Heather Terrell, Marie also authored The Chrysalis, The Map Thief, and Brigid of Kildare. She is a graduate of Boston College and the Boston University School of Law, and lives in Pittsburgh with her family.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know the first four paragraphs for this book?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The Other Einstein
  He described the problems he'd identified in Drude's work and asked for my advice. I thought for a moment, and said, "Well, perhaps if you wrote to Drude and pointed out his mistakes, you might feel more comfortable sharing your theories. You might even forge a useful alliance with him if you do it tactfully enough. One admirer of physics to the other, that sort of thing."
  I smiled; I adored making Albert happy. Particularly when I was about to share some very unsettling news. "We are indeed."
  We stopped at the Café Metropole, securing a well-placed outdoor table with just enough seclusion. Albert was thrilled to be returning to our favorite spot now that he had a job, necessary armor for any acquaintances we might come across. Before I could say anything, Albert summoned a familiar waiter. "Two Milchkaffee please, Heinrich."
  The very second the waiter placed the cups down, Albert proudly paid for us both. Heinrich's eyebrows raised in surprise—Albert never had the funds to pay for my coffee before—but he didn't remark. As we clinked our cups in a toast, he said, "I wish we could pursue a beautiful life together right away. But between my parents and the fact that I could only land a temporary job just now, fate seems to have something against us, my sweet Dollie."
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know four more paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: I almost said no, just like I'd almost said no to this entire trip. I'd resisted Albert's thoughtful show of niceties—his manner of apology for Anna Meyer-Schmid—since we arrived in the Engadine Valley for our summer holiday. But my leg and hip ached with the grade of the climb and the weight of Hans Albert in my arms, so I relented.
  The hill grew steeper as we neared the flat apex. The final crest was almost unbearably precipitous, and I nearly stopped. I pushed myself along on the waves of my ongoing anger over Anna Meyer-Schmid and Albert's hateful words. No more weakness.
  I could no longer accept Albert's grand shows of affection—this holiday as compensation for his flirtations with Anna Meyer-Schmid, the Maschinchen project as atonement for his omission of my name on the 1905 paper on relativity—instead of what he knew I wanted in the way of amends. Work. I withdrew into the shell of my exterior, like the mollusk I'd once stopped myself from becoming. That hard, protective layer was necessary to survive the turbulent waters that were my relationship with Albert.
  The beautiful Engadine Valley spread out before me, giving me momentary relief from my inner turmoil. The azure River En cut through the verdant valley, turning the high mountainous peaks into a dramatic snowcapped backdrop. Picturesque spire-laden towns dotted the valley, and trails cut through the hills like swooping paint strokes. I knew why Albert brought me here: to reawaken old memories and loving affection. Feelings that seemed like faraway memories. Feelings that would make me forget about his failings.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Do you know the last five paragraphs?
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: At the outset, I did have a certain amount of interest in tracking the course of the relationship between Albert and Mileva. Theirs was a passionate affair and magnificent meeting of the minds that devolved rather dramatically over time. But I was also interested in exploring the process of scientific creativity that happened between them—that very moment of insight—and the attribution that happened afterward.
  Have you always enjoyed science yourself, or was writing about physics and theory a whole new world for you?
  The irony about writing is that I haven't always been a lover of science. In fact, I almost didn't write it because I found the science overwhelming. That said, once I dug into exciting scientific developments of this historical time period, I developed a new appreciation for mathematics and science—physics in particular. Viewed through Mileva's eyes, math and science become a way of discovering divine, universal patterns in our world, a notion I found very intriguing.
  My wonderful family and friends have been indispensable in their support, including, but definitely not limited to: my Sewickley crew, my Lucky Eight writing ladies, Illana Raia, Kelly Close, and Ponny Conomos Jahn. But, without my boys Jim, Jack, and Ben championing this project, would never have come to light. They have my endless gratitude.
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