47 - EINSTEIN, Albert (1879–1955).

EINSTEIN, Albert (1879–1955). Autograph letter signed “A.E.,” [Berlin], April 1, 1916, to his wife Mileva EINSTEIN-MARIC; 2¼ pages, in-8 format; in German. Description: To his first wife, Mileva Einstein-Maric, regarding their divorce and their sons (Hans Albert and Eduard). [Einstein attempted to persuade Mileva to divorce him in 1915 and again in 1918, notably by promising to pay her the amount of the Nobel Prize should he win it. The marriage was dissolved on February 14, 1919, by the Zurich District Court on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.] He finally took the plunge and, in accordance with their initial agreement, consulted a lawyer regarding the divorce. The proceedings would take place in Berlin and would cause Mileva neither inconvenience nor expense. Her rights would be protected to the fullest extent possible. She was to write to the Berlin lawyer Albert Pinner to inform him of her intention to file for divorce and to retain him as her attorney. She would set forth her requests to him, in agreement with Einstein. His refusal to allow the boys to visit him—even at a later date—constitutes a form of unjustified harassment; however, he will not press the issue and will do everything in his power to accommodate her. He intends to travel to Zurich for a short hike lasting about ten days with Albert, and perhaps also with Tete (Eduard). He will stay at a hotel or a bed-and-breakfast. He is convinced that Mileva will not prevent him from seeing his sons this time; if she were to do so, he would not return to Zurich anytime soon. He does not want to force the issue, but neither does he want to have to beg for the right to see his children. He should arrive in about a week, if he manages to cross the border quickly. He wants to emphasize once again that not being able to live with Mileva has no bearing on his relationship with the boys. He would be happy to have them with him, and he remains very attached to them. Leaving them with Mileva is a great sacrifice, not a lack of affection or paternal sensitivity... “I’ve now taken the plunge and, based on your agreement in principle, discussed the divorce matter with a lawyer. The court proceedings are to take place in Berlin and will cause you neither inconvenience nor expense. Your rights will be safeguarded to the greatest extent possible. Please be so kind as to write to the lawyer assigned to you, Dr. Albert Pinner […], stating that you are, in principle, inclined to file for divorce against me and to retain him as your attorney. Also outline to him what demands you—in agreement with me—are making. The fact that you do not want to let the boys come here even in the future is, given my promise not to bring them into contact with anyone from the family, an unjustified act of harassment. But I will not insist on this demand, so that you can see that I am accommodating you in every way possible. I will now come to Zurich to go on a short hike with Albert—and possibly with Tete as well—lasting about 10 days. I’ll be staying in a hotel or a guesthouse in Zurich, as Albert requested last time. I’m confident that this time you won’t almost completely withhold the boys from me again. If you do it again, like last time, I won’t be coming back to Zurich anytime soon. I don’t want to force anything, but I also don’t want to have to beg for my right to be with my boys. In about a week, if I manage to cross the border right away, I’ll arrive in Zurich. I want to emphasize once again that the fact that I couldn’t live with you personally has no bearing on my relationship with the boys. I would be happy if I could have the children with me, and I love them no less than I did before. If I leave them with you, this represents a heavy sacrifice for me—not a lack of affection or paternal feeling »…