Albert Einstein was born in Germany, educated in Switzerland, and eventually settled in America. It was Britain, however, that made Einstein into a world famous scientist, according to author Andrew Robinson.
Author Andrew Robinson
Robinson writes that Einstein's physics theories were inspired by English mathematician Sir Isaac Newton, and England gave Einstein sanctuary from the Nazis in 1933. Britain also hosted numerous visits from Einstein, during which the physicist gave lectures and met with fellow scientists.
In 1921, for example, Einstein made his first visit to England with his second wife Elsa.
Albert Einstein and his second wife Elsa
At the University of Manchester - then the home of physicists Ernest Rutherford and Neils Bohr - Einstein accepted an Honorary Doctorate in Science and gave a lecture on relativity for an audience of about one thousand, including staff, students, and others.
University of Manchester
Ernest Rutherford
Neils Bohr
Robinson briefly outlines Einstein's two groundbreaking theories - the Theory of Relativity and Quantum Theory - both of which may be rather obscure to the average reader. Robinson notes that Einstein had a gift for making himself understood, but even he "couldn't transform relativity into more than a tantalizing concept for the non-mathematically minded." In a nutshell:
Spacetime is the concept that the three-dimensional geometry of the universe (the location of things on an xyz-axis) and the time dimension (when events occur) are not separate things. They form a single unit.
In very simple terms, the theory of general relativity says:
- The presence of matter in the universe alters the geometry of spacetime - that is, it curves spacetime.
- Gravity is a manifestation of the curvature of spacetime.
- Objects that 'fall' because of gravity are following straight line paths in a curved spacetime.
Gravity is illustrated in the diagram above. The grid is spacetime, the sphere is matter (let's say the Earth).....and gravity diverts the trajectory of the object (let's say the moon).
Besieged by the press and public to explain relativity, Einstein told his secretary to give casual inquirers the following lighthearted explanation: "An hour sitting with a pretty girl on a park bench passes like a minute, but a minute sitting on a hot stove seems like an hour."
Einstein's other great achievement is his contribution to Quantum Theory. The physicist is considered one of the founders of this theory because he proposed that electromagnetic radiation ejects electrons from a material. In a nutshell:
Particles of light called photons (or quanta) collide with electrons on a surface and eject them.
Robinson also details additional aspects of Einstein's work, including Einstein's differences of opinion with other physicists (especially about quantum mechanics), and Einstein's calculation of a cosmological constant that he later rejected.
Besides outlining Einstein's scientific achievements, Robinson describes how Einstein, a Jew, was impacted by Nazism in Germany. The acceptance of Einstein and his theories in England contrasted with the physicist's denunciation in Germany, where there was a 'vociferous anti-relativity movement' among scientists, philosophers, and the public. In fact an anti-Semitic book called 'One Hundred Authors Against Einstein' (Hundert Autoren Gegen Einstein) was published in 1931.
Einstein was deeply loyal to German science, but wasn't sympathetic to Germany itself. He said (in German), "The state to which I belong as a citizen does not play the slightest role in my emotional life. I regard a person's relations with the state as a business matter, rather like one's relations with a life assurance company."
Unlike many Germans at the time, Einstein was a pacifist and hated war. Among other anti-war statements, Einstein said, "I feel only contempt for those who can take pleasure marching in rank and file to the strains of a band. Surely such men were given their great brain by mistake. The spinal cord would have amply sufficed. This shameful stain on civilization should be wiped out as soon as possible. Heroism on command, senseless violence and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism, how passionately I despise them. How vile and contemptible war seems to me. I would rather be torn limb from limb than take part is such an ugly business."
This didn't endear the scientist to the German government.
As Einstein became increasingly unpopular in Germany, he spent more time in England. The scientist visited The University of Oxford three times as a Rhodes lecturer in the early 1930s.
Albert Einstein at The University of Oxford
Albert Einstein lecturing at The University of Oxford
In Oxford Einstein was warmly welcomed by British physicist Frederick Lindermann, who wrote, “Combined with his attractive personality, [Einstein’s] kindness and sympathy have endeared him to all of us and I have hopes that his period as Rhodes lecturer may initiate more permanent connections with this university which can only prove fertile and advantageous in every respect.”
Frederick Lindermann
On top of his other interests, Einstein strongly supported Jewish causes and lobbied Britain to provide positions for Jewish scientists expelled from Germany - which England did in many instances. In 1933 Einstein opened a speech at Royal Albert Hall in London with the following remarks: "Through your well organized work of relief you have done a great service, not only to innocent scholars who have been persecuted, but also to humanity and science. You have shown that you and the British people have remained faithful to the traditions of tolerance and justice which for centuries you have upheld with pride."
Albert Einstein speaking at Royal Albert Hall
In early 1933, shortly after Hitler seized power, Einstein left Germany for the last time. The Nazis confiscated his home and possessions - including his violin - and Einstein became homeless. British politician Oliver Locker-Lampson offered Einstein the use of his London house, explaining that "it consisted of a hallway, dining room, living room and lounge, two or three bedrooms, three bedrooms for employees, and well-equipped kitchen facilities. Moreover, both running costs and servants would be included in the offer."
British politician Oliver Locker-Lampson
Later, in August 1933 - when Einstein was staying in Belgium - the Nazis wrongly accused the physicist of being responsible for the defamatory (in their eyes) publication 'The Brown Book of the Hitler Terror and the Burning of the Reichstag.'
Germany put a price on Einstein's head, and Locker-Lampson came to the rescue once again. The politician arranged to 'hide' Einstein away in his holiday hut in rural Norfolk, where Einstein stayed for a short time. Robinson writes, "Not only did Locker-Lampson serve Einstein and England well, he also served himself and his public image well."
An odd mixture of secrecy and publicity surrounded Einstein's stay in Locker-Lampson's cottage. On the one hand, Locker-Lampson arranged for a private guard of his friends with guns to guard Einstein zealously.
Albert Einstein and Oliver Locker-Lampson
On the other hand, a reporter interviewed Einstein, and published an article with a photograph of Einstein at the hut. The author notes, "Any Nazi agent worth his salt could have worked out where Einstein was hidden", but presumably "Germany was looking the other way."
As a personal observation I have to say, "What were those Nazis thinking?!", trying to assassinate one of the greatest scientists of all time.
In any case Einstein survived his visit to Norfolk, and in October 1933 the scientist and his wife Elsa left for the United States. There Einstein had a position at Princeton University's "Institute for Advanced Study", where he spent the rest of his life.
Albert Einstein at Princeton University
The book has myriad details about Einstein's life and work, and is clearly the result of in depth research by the author. Some of the explanations of scientific theories were rather rough going, but I enjoyed the book and acquired new insight into Einstein the scientist and humanitarian.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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