Einstein, Albert | A group of letters to attorney Joseph S. Meadow

Einstein, Albert 

A group of letters to attorney Joseph S. Meadow, discussing his unauthorized biography, dated 1944

Three typed letters, one page each (275 x 214 mm). Each signed ("A. Einstein"), on Einstein's personal letterhead, embossed "112 Mercer Street, Princeton N.J.," dated 4 September 1944, 21 September 1944, and 26 September 1944; old folds, faint toning. [With:] Typed letter from Dimitri Marianoff, marked "COPY!," signed (A. Einstein), and dated 23 May 1942; old folds, faint toning. [And:] Two typed letters from attorney Joseph S. Meadow; toning and marginal chips, marginal dampstaining.

A revealing collection of letters between Einstein and his lawyer related to an unwelcome biography, penned by his former son-in-law. 

Einstein—An Intimate Study of a Great Man, was published by Dimitri Marianoff, the ex-husband of Margot Einstein, the physicist's stepdaughter. Although a positive title, Marianoff’s relationship with the family was strained. Margot and Marianoff married in 1930, but lived apart after about four years until their divorce in 1937.

Einstein was famously adverse to attention, and rejected the assertion that Marianoff’s publication offered a “family’s eye view of genius.” In a 1942 letter, Marianoff had vowed to “never have the book published if Albert should not agree to that.” Despite this, the biography was published by Doubleday in July of 1944. Einstein accordingly wrote to the law offices of Mr. Joseph S. Meadow in September of that year, with an edited copy of the aforementioned letter, hoping to stop the “wholly unauthorized” writing. Meadow entered into conversations with the publishing company on Einstein’s behalf, which resulted in the biography’s second printing being cut. 

The present letters, exchanged between Einstein and his lawyer through September of 1944, offered no further resolution, leading Einstein to condemn and abandon the whole "dirty affair” entirely.