In the spring of 1919, two British solar eclipse expeditions confirmed
the correctness of general relativity theory and propelled Albert
Einstein to instant celebrity. Before this major turning point, the
majority of Einstein's writings published in this volume dealt with the
clarification of general relativistic problems, such as the status of
the metric field, the character of gravitational waves, the problem of
energy-momentum conservation, and questions of cosmology, such as the
nature and size of the universe and the distribution of matter within
it. After his rise to international fame, Einstein's publications
changed markedly. He faced an increasing demand for popular articles and
lectures on relativity, its development and meaning. He also felt
compelled to respond to a host of commentators, ranging from skeptical
physicists to philosophers trying to reconcile his revolutionary theory
with their views. For the first time, he also responded in print to
outspoken anti-relativists, some of them fueled by cultural conservatism
and, frequently, anti-Semitism.
Einstein used his newly won fame to lend prestige to political causes,
especially to the reconciliation among European nations and to Zionism.
In the early years of Weimar Germany, Einstein spoke out vigorously for
the young republic, emphasizing the rights of the individual. He
agonized over the misery of the Central Europeans in the grip of
starvation and economic collapse, praised the support of individuals and
groups such as the Quakers, and championed the cause of Eastern European
Jews. His rejection of assimilation, combined with a fierce defense of
the right of Jews to higher education, led Einstein to campaign for the
establishment of a university in Palestine, the land which he conceived
of as a cultural center for all Jews.
Since this supplementary paperback includes only select portions of
Volume 7, it is not recommended for purchase without the main volume.
