Niels Henrik Abel and His Times: Called Too Soon by Flames Afar

Stubhaug, Arild

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3540668349 ISBN 13: 9783540668343

Publisher: Springer, 2000

Niels Henrik Abel and His Times This is the life of a Norwegian mathematical genius: Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829). The author is himself both a historian and a mathematician. Full description

Review:

"I first read the book in the original Norwegian and found it impossible to put down. This is a truly remarkable book that takes you inside the life and passion of a mathematician. Anybody with or without a mathematical background can enjoy it."

Mathematical Reviews Issue 2001 h

"This book, originally published in 1996 in Norwegian, won the book-of-the-year prize (the Brage prize) of the Norwegian Publishers Association. It is the longest and definitive biography of Niels Henrik Abel. Now available in English, this book will be enjoyed by everyone interested in the history of science and mathematics."

B.M.Schein (Fayetteville), Zentralblatt für Mathematik, 991.36737

"...In Niels Henrik Abel and His Times, Arild Stubhaug has given us a work of lasting value. It will serve as an indispensable source book for any one wanting to learn about Abel, particularly as we approach the Abel bicentennial conference at the University of Oslo in June 2002. ..."

O.A.Laudal, MAA Monthly, October 2001

"... It is an extremely well-written account of Abel's short life (1802-29). It compares favorably with Oystein Ore's biography..., which is highly recommendable and was until now the most complete source on Abel's life. ...The book is written in an elegant and captivating literary style that made it almost impossible for me to put it down. ...The book is beautifully illustrated wtih 51 figures. There is no doubt that this book is a great contribution to our knowledge of Abel and his time. For a historian of mathematics it presents a great improvement vis à vis Ore's book, both for its richer cultural context and because it lists the sources. ... For those who want this richer cultural context, I warmly recommend Stubhaug's new book."

Jesper Lützen, Notices of the AMS, August 2002

" ... Along with work by some other authors, who are cited in this book, Stubhaug and Hawkins have 'done' Lie handsomely, at least for a long time to come. ..."

Reviewed by I.Grattan-Guiness, Ganita Bharati 2002, Vol. 24, Issue 1-4

"Ein mathematisches Genie, das viel zu früh starb und das quasi erst auf dem Totenbett die Stelle angeboten bekam, die seinem Leben eine finanzielle Basis gegeben und ihm eine große Karriere eröffnet hätte: Das war der norwegische Mathematiker Niels Henrik Abel (1802 - 1829). In der Mathematikgeschichte ist eine Biographie, aus der man leicht ein Film-Drehbuch machen könnte, kein Einzelfall (Galois, Ramanujan, ...), im vorliegenden Buch wird das Leben von Abel liebevoll und sehr ausführlich nachgezeichnet. Man kann das Buch als erste Einführung in die von Abel entwickelte Mathematik lesen. (Es gibt in dem Buch aber keine einzige Formel, wirklich schwierig wird es an keiner Stelle.) Es bietet auch die Möglichkeit, viel Interessantes aus der europäischen, insbesondere der norwegischen Geschichte zu Beginn des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts zu erfahren. Deutschland kommt auch vor, denn hier verbrachte Abel die für seine mathematische Entwicklung wichtigsten Jahre. Für Abel- und Norwegen-Fans ein Muss, für den/die Durchschnittsleser(in) vielleicht etwas zu ausführlich. Das sprachliche Niveau des Englisch, das hier verwendet wird, ist recht hoch. Leserinnen und Leser, die auf der Schule nur das Allernotwendigste in dieser Sprache gelernt haben, sollten sich ein Wörterbuch bereit legen."

Rezension: Ehrhard Behrends, http://www.mathematik.de

 

Synopsis:

Read about the dramatic life of an outstanding mathematical genius: Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829). Arild Stubhaug, who is both a historian and a mathematician, has written the definitive biography of Niels Henrik Abel. The Norwegian original edition was a sensational success, and Arild Stubhaug was awarded the most prestigious Norwegian literary prize (Brageprisen) in the category non-fiction. Everyone with an interest in the history of mathematics and science will enjoy reading this book on one of the most famous mathematicians of the 19th century.