Stanley Matthew Bücher

In 1916, British astronomer Arthur Eddington received a letter from an obscure German professor, Einstein, containing equations that outlined his groundbreaking theory of general relativity. At that time, Einstein's revolutionary ideas were largely unknown, overshadowed by the ongoing war and widespread rejection of anything German. Recognizing the potential impact of Einstein's theory, Eddington saw an opportunity for scientific advancement and international cooperation amidst conflict. Although Einstein is now celebrated as a genius, his journey to fame was fraught with challenges. It took him a decade to develop relativity, and his rise to global recognition was bolstered by international collaboration, notably Eddington's pivotal 1919 expedition. This narrative challenges the notion of scientific discovery as merely a product of individual brilliance, illustrating instead the hard work, risks, and missteps involved, often influenced by the complexities of national and personal interests. The story highlights the human connection between two individuals on opposing sides of history who united for the sake of science. It offers an accessible understanding of relativity, depicting its development in a relatable manner, as it unfolded a century ago.

In 1916, Arthur Eddington, a war-weary British astronomer, opened a letter written by an obscure German professor named Einstein. The neatly printed equations on the scrap of paper outlined his world-changing theory of general relativity. Until then Einstein's masterpiece of time and space had been trapped behind the physical and ideological lines of battle, unknown. Einstein's name is now synonymous with 'genius', but it was not an easy road. He spent a decade creating relativity and his ascent to global celebrity owed much to against-the-odds international collaboration, including Eddington's globe-spanning expedition of 1919 - two years before they finally met. We usually think of scientific discovery as a flash of individual inspiration, but here we see it is the result of hard work, gambles and wrong turns. Einstein's War is a celebration of what science can offer when bigotry and nationalism are defeated. Using previously unknown sources and written like a thriller, it shows relativity being built brick-by-brick in front of us, as it happened 100 years ago.