Page 7 - A Truly Beautiful .. - Module

Other than Maths and Physics, Albert Einstein liked one of his fellow
students, her name was Mileva Maric. He thought that she was very
clever, sharp and intelligent.

This young Serb had come to Switzerland because the University in
Zurich was one of the few in Europe where women could get degrees.

They met at the University of Zurich. Mileva Maric belonged to Serbia
(that is why she is called a Serb). She came from Serbia to Switzerland
because the University in Zurich was one of the few Universities in
Europe which gave degrees to female students.

Einstein saw in her an ally against the “philistines”—those people in his
family and at the university with whom he was constantly at odds.

ally: a friend or an associate
philistines: a word used disapprovingly to talk about people who do not
like art, literature or music
To be at odds means to be in the opposition of someone, to be against
someone.

Einstein felt that Mileva was a friend because she also liked art,
literature or music. Both shared this common interest. In those days,