Berlin, January-February 1918

Feeling like Don Quixote's windmills: Einstein attempts to defuse a dispute about his treatment of his wife and children.

Anna Besso has evidently written a furious letter to Einstein about his financial treatment of his family; the letter, he says, attacked him in a 'truly knightly way, i.e. with spear and club': he goes on humorously that he now knows how Don Quixote's windmills must have felt. He asks her now to lay aside 'knightliness and temperament', and sets out the reasonableness of the terms he has offered his estranged wife, Mileva, notably a yearly income of 6,000 francs. He underlines that because of his physical condition, he needs special care, and it is necessary for him to cohabit with (his future second wife) Elsa in the same apartment: 'This brings, if one is not married, serious difficulties with it, in relation to the landlord, the concierge and the domestics'. His two nieces (Elsa's children), who are now of marriageable age, are also harmed by the situation. He is ready to make all necessary financial provisions for Mileva and the children, including signing over his pension and his savings. He therefore asks Anna to counsel Mileva to accept the divorce: he knows that Anna feels herself 'a protector of the weak and an enemy of the proud'; but he asks her to consider what grounds Mileva can really have for clinging only to the appearance of a marriage. He sends details of some bank transfers which have been disputed. Einstein concludes by expressing surprise that Anna's father should have agreed with her 'outrageous' letter: 'I should be sorry if he too should be dragged into the vortex of the women's war against me'. But reason will prevail, once the heat of battle is past.

Anna Besso's annotation at the foot of the letter expresses the grounds of her outrage, that Einstein should be pressing Mileva for a divorce at a time when the latter was seriously ill.