Dear Jochen
Please don't apologize for length--I find your letters fascinating.  Particularly the last. Do you know that Montesquieu was quoting Alexander Pope:
Nature and Nature's laws
Lay hid in night;
God said, Let Newton be
And all was light.

To which a 20thc wag added,

But the devil, crying "Ho,
Let Einstein be,"
Restored the status quo.

Hope you like that.  Found in the Oxford book of quotations, which in itself is endless fun.
You mention Constitutional law.  Have you ever read "The Federalist Papers"?
By Madison, Hamilton, and Jay (I think), though published anonymously.  This was to persuade thinking people to vote for the new constitution, and it is full of interesting argument.  You might like it.  Partic. #10, though I haven't read it in many a year.
As to the novel, I agree that it is good to put it aside for a while until the spirit rises up again.  I have the beginnings of a novel, roistering away in a cardboard box, which I haven't touched in 30 years, I fear.  Well, it's not going anywhere, and I doubt the world is holding its breath for it.

I see the neurologist on the 3rd of Feb, my 83rd birthday.  The info sent me by his office makes him out to to be eminent in his field (they could scarcely say otherwise), but I was a little put off by the comment on his CV, "he enjoys active sports, like running, jumping and Bible studies."  Can't wait (or maybe I can) to find out what that entails.
Best to you both
Cyndy