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EINSTEIN ALBERT
(1879-1955).
L.S. « A. Einstein »,
Princeton
14 avril 1944,
à David ROTHMAN ; 1 page in-4 dactylographiée
avec en-tête en relief à ses nom et adresse ; en anglais.
4 000 / 5 000 €
Sur la destruction de son manuscrit sur la relativité, et les succès
des Alliés contre Hitler.
[David ROTHMAN possède un magasin à Southlod, Long Island. Dans
l’été 1939, il se lia d’amitié avec Einstein pendant que le physicien
passait des vacances à Nassau Point, Peconic Bay, à l’est de Long
Island. Musicien amateur, Rothman organisait un quatuor d’amateurs,
auquel Einstein aimait à se joindre, au cours de soirées musicales.
Rothman s’intéressait beaucoup aux sciences et aimait parler avec
Einstein de sujets scientifiques.]
Einstein évoque le beau bateau construit par le fils de Rothman, à qui
il souhaite de passer de bons moments dessus. Leur baie est le plus
beau lieu de navigation qu’Einstein ait jamais connu, et il regrette que
la santé de sa famille le contraigne à se rendre à la montagne pour
les vacances. Il explique le destin de son manuscrit sur la théorie
de la relativité : il n’a pas été brûlé par les Nazis. Il l’a lui-même jeté
à la poubelle après son impression, jugeant qu’il n’était pas bon. À
cette époque, il ignorait tout du snobisme de ce monde. Il est très
satisfait des progrès de la guerre et particulièrement de la force des
Russes. Il se souvient bien d’avoir eu très peur pour eux quand Hitler
a commencé ses attaques en 1941…
EINSTEIN ALBERT
(1879-1955).
Signed letter, signe « A. Einstein », Princeton 14 April 1944,
to David ROTHMAN ; 1 page in-4 fomat, typed letter, on his
personalized embossed stationery “A. Einstein 112 Mercer
Street Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.”; in English.
4 000 / 5 000 €
Einstein discusses the fate of his original manuscript on the Theory
of Relativity and voices his satisfaction with the success of the Allies
against Hitler. The letter is written shortly before the Invasion of
Normandy.
Einstein’s correspondent, David Rothman, owned a department store in
Southold, Long Island. During the summer of 1939, he befriended
Einstein while he vacationed at Nassau Point on Peconic Bay on
eastern Long Island. An amateur musician, Rothman organized a
musical quartet with Einstein and some local friends, who would get
together to play during the course of the summer in what Einstein
would later refer to as his “pleasant musical evenings.” Though
Rothman only had a high school education, he had a keen interest
in science and enjoyed talking with Einstein about scientific matters
and more. Their friendship blossomed over the summer of 1939 and
the warm relationship continued for many years punctuated by visits
and correspondence back and forth.
Beginning his letter with fond memories of his summer of 1939,
Einstein remarks on the beautiful boat Rothman’s son has built and
wishes him “happy times in it.” He then reminisces: “Your Bay is really
the most beutiful [sic] sailing ground I ever experienced and I regret
that the health of my family compels me to go to the mountains for
recreation.”
No doubt answering a question posed by Rothman in a previous
letter, Einstein proceeds to explain the fate of his first manuscript
on the Theory of Relativity: “My first manuscript about relativity was
not burned by the Nazis. I myself threw it into the waste-basket after
it was printed judging it was good for nothing. At that time I knew
nothing of the snobbery of this human world.”
Turning to current events, he comments about World War II: “I feel
quite satisfied with the progress of the war and especially with the
strength of the Russians. I remember quite well how I trembled for
them when Hitler began his attack in 1941.”