Albert Einstein stands as one of the greatest creative forces in science of the twentieth century. His ideas transformed humanity’s understanding of space, time, matter, and energy, reshaping physics and leaving a lasting imprint on modern thought. His influence extended far beyond science, a reach recognized when TIME magazine named him “Person of the Century” in December 1999.

The portrayal of Einstein in The Compass draws on a wide range of primary and secondary sources that illuminate both his scientific work and the evolution of his thinking over time. These include Einstein’s own writings on relativity and philosophy, collaborative works that sought to explain physics to broader audiences, and major biographies that situate his discoveries within the social, political, and personal contexts of his life. Among these are Relativity: The Special and the General Theory, The Evolution of Physics, Out of My Later Years, and Ideas and Opinions, alongside definitive biographies of Einstein by Walter Isaacson, Ronald W. Clark, Banesh Hoffmann, and Abraham Pais.

In addition to these foundational books, an extensive body of letters, photographs, lectures, interviews, videos, and archival materials is now available online. This wealth of multimedia material has informed the novel and helped shape a more textured, human portrait of Einstein. This section of the website organizes that material in a structured and accessible way, offering readers a deeper view into Einstein’s life, work, and legacy, and it includes the following pages:

• Cast of Real-Life Characters

• Chronology of Events

• Real-Life Places

• Photos & Videos

• Links of Interest

• General Writings

• Technical Writings

Together, these resources provide context for the novel and invite readers to engage more deeply with the remarkable journey of a mind that forever changed how we see the universe.