Einstein in Bohemia

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Though one of the most significant figures in modern science, Einstein often occupied a marginal position. Despite his role in developing quantum theory, he remained skeptical of it, and his major research goal at Princeton—a unified field theory—ultimately failed. Michael Gordin delves into this paradox by focusing on a brief yet pivotal period in Einstein's life: his time as a physics professor in Prague from April 1911 to summer 1912. Often overlooked by biographers, this year was crucial for Einstein personally and scientifically. During this time, his marriage deteriorated, he began to confront his Jewish identity, and he attempted a new explanation for gravitation that, despite its failure, influenced his later work. He also met key figures such as Max Brod, Hugo Bergmann, Philipp Frank, and Arnošt Kolman, who would shape his thinking. This exploration serves as a double-biography of Einstein and Prague, linking the two in their shared paradox of being both central and marginal to European history. While Prague would become the capital of the Czech Republic, it was often overshadowed by Vienna and Budapest within the Habsburg Empire. The city boasted a vibrant Germanophone intellectual scene, despite the majority of its population speaking Czech. By highlighting the marginality and centrality of both Einstein and Prague, Gordin offers fresh insights into Einstein's life and the intellectual climate of early twentieth-ce