The Eclipse of 1919: How Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity Changed Our World

From his earliest days as a child, Albert Einstein was fascinated with the relationship between light and gravity. He couldn’t stop thinking about the laws of the universe, and was determined to describe how motion and time, and energy and mass, all worked together. Einstein imagined gravity as what happens when objects bend the space and time around them. But this theory couldn’t be perceived in the everyday world. To test his hypothesis, Einstein needed to see if the sun’s gravity bent the light from a nearby star. And the only way to do that was to photograph a total solar eclipse. This is the story of how scientist Arthur Eddington validated Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, permanently altering the world’s understanding of the universe and beyond. It’s a testament to the relationship between nature, science, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Emily Arnold McCully has illustrated many award-winning books for children, including Mirette on the High Wire, which received the Caldecott Medal; Dreaming in Code: Ada Byron Lovelace, Computer Pioneer, which received starred reviews from School Library Journal and The Bulletin; and Caroline’s Comets. Emily divides her time between New York City and Austerlitz, New York, where she was able to experience the 2024 total eclipse in her backyard. She invites you to visit her online at emilyarnoldmccully.com.