Ada Lovelace: The Making of a Computer Scientist
Hollings, Christopher; Martin, Ursula; Rice, Adrian
Language: English
Published by Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, 2018
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: DO NOT START, Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.DO NOT START
AbeBooks seller since August 15, 2026
Condition: Used - As new
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As new. Appears unread. Ada, Countess of Lovelace (1815–52), daughter of romantic poet Lord Byron and the highly educated Anne Isabella, is sometimes called the world’s first computer programmer, and she has become an icon for women in technology today. But how did a young woman in the nineteenth century, without access to formal schooling or university education, acquire the knowledge and expertise to become a pioneer of computer science? Although it was an unusual pursuit for women at the time, Ada Lovelace studied science and mathematics from a young age. This book uses previously unpublished archival material to explore her precocious childhood—from her curiosity about the science of rainbows to her design for a steam-powered flying horse—as well as her ambitious young adulthood. Active in Victorian London’s social and scientific elite alongside Mary Somerville, Michael Faraday, and Charles Dickens, Ada Lovelace became fascinated by the computing machines of Charles Babbage, whose ambitious, unbuilt invention known as the “Analytical Engine” inspired Lovelace to devise a table of mathematical formulae which many now refer to as the “first program.” Ada Lovelace died at just thirty-six, but her work strikes a chord to this day, offering clear explanations of the principles of computing, and exploring ideas about computer music and artificial intelligence that have been realized in modern digital computers. Featuring detailed illustrations of the “first program” alongside mathematical models, correspondence, and contemporary images, this book shows how Ada Lovelace, with astonishing prescience, first investigated the key mathematical questions behind the principles of modern computing. Christopher Hollings is departmental lecturer in the Oxford Mathematical Institute, and a senior research fellow of the Queen’s College, Oxford. Ursula Martin is a professor at the University of Oxford whose research interests span mathematics, computer science, and the humanities. Adrian Rice is professor of mathematics at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. …
Seller Inventory # ABE-1790436906158
- Title
- Ada Lovelace: The Making of a Computer Scientist
- Author
- Hollings, Christopher; Martin, Ursula; Rice, Adrian
- Publisher
- Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
- Publication year
- 2018
- Condition
- As new
- Dust jacket
- As New
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1851244883
- ISBN 13
- 9781851244881
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item weight
- 440 grams
- Dimensions
- 15.88 centimeters width by 20.96 centimeters height by 1.78 centimeters depth
Although an unusual pursuit for women at the time, Ada Lovelace studied science and mathematics from a young age. This book uses previously unpublished archival material to explore her precocious childhood, from her ideas for a steam-powered flying horse to penetrating questions about the science of rainbows. A remarkable correspondence course with the eminent mathematician Augustus De Morgan shows her developing into a gifted, perceptive and knowledgeable mathematician. Active in Victorian London's social and scientific elite alongside Mary Somerville, Michael Faraday and Charles Dickens, Ada Lovelace became fascinated by the computing machines devised by Charles Babbage. The table of mathematical formulae sometimes called the ‘first programme’ occurs in her paper about his most ambitious invention, his unbuilt ‘Analytical Engine’.
Ada Lovelace died at just thirty-six, but her paper still strikes a chord to this day, with clear explanations of the principles of computing, and broader ideas on computer music and artificial intelligence now realised in modern digital computers. Featuring images of the ‘first programme’ and Lovelace’s correspondence, alongside mathematical models, and contemporary illustrations, this book shows how Ada Lovelace, with astonishing prescience, explored key mathematical questions to understand the principles behind modern computing.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Ursula Martin is a Professor at the University of Oxford whose research interests span mathematics, computer science and the humanities.
Adrian Rice is Professor of Mathematics at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, USA.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
DO NOT START
Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since August 15, 2026
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