Albert Einstein. 6 September 1944

Albert Einstein (1879-1955).

Autograph letter signed (with initials, 'A.E') to [Otto Juliusburger], [postmarked Saranac Lake, New York], 6 September [1944].

In German, 1½ pages, 278 x 214mm. Envelope. Provenance: Stargardt, 4 July 2000, lot 521 (part of lot).

On the curious phenomenon of memory loss, his sister's illness, a potentially fatal sailing accident and the dramatic denouement of World War Two. Einstein has been greatly interested by an article about gaps in memory, comparing our ability to read books and recognise people and our inability to remember our earlier life; he wonders 'Where is the fundamental distinction between what is lost and what is preserved?', and speculates whether such 'partial functional failures' provide clues to an understanding of memory functions, or are more likely to be a result of emotional inhibitions. Einstein is in an 'immensely picturesque corner of the earth', but is passing 'rather anxious days' because of the serious illness of his sister, Maja, which is causing her considerable pain: 'Just when it had got so bad, I had my sailing accident, which was also associated with mortal danger for those involved'. But all this is nothing compared with the dramatic denouement of the War in Europe: 'I am thankful that I have been able to experience this reversal of fortune, which looks like justice' – although he jokes that 'perhaps it would be more prudent to die soon', so as not to experience the same disappointment as after the First World War. For Einstein, the bitterest disappointment of that period was not the behaviour of Germany, from which he expected nothing better, but that of the Western powers, especially Britain, which he describes as 'despicable': 'They allowed the German hyenas to grow strong out of blind hatred for Russia, which by its example threatened their sainted capitalism. I do not know whether one may now expect any essentially more reasonable attitude from these hypocrites...'.

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