Princeton, June 1946

The possibility of Maja returning to Europe.

Einstein's elder son, Hans Albert, will be travelling to Switzerland in early July with his family, and will visit Paul: 'they will relate everything worth knowing about our little world here. Maja is not to far from being able to come with them. It would also be better for her if she could travel by air'; they will send most of her luggage in the meantime. 'In my opinion it would be much the best thing if she could be brought directly to your Italian home, in that an unstable existence in unaccustomed circumstances would constitute a serious burden for her'. Paul's letters have been 'her greatest delight' during the long years of their separation. As a reluctant correspondent himself, Einstein is well placed to value 'with how much patience and with how much sensitivity you have sweetened these years of her "exile". She has often read out particularly interesting passages from these letters to me, and I have always taken my own pleasure in them'. The letter ends with greetings to Michele Besso, in whose house Paul Winteler was living.

The relatively optimistic tone of this letter was in part a show for Maja's benefit – see the following lot.




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