With a few notable exceptions, pure mathematics in Britain at the beginning of the nineteenth century was mainly a recreation for amateurs. Drawing on primary sources, John Heard provides an engaging account of the process by which it rose to become an academic discipline of repute which by the First World War was led by G. H. Hardy, and supported by the internationally-respected London Mathematical Society. In chronicling that rise, this book describes key contributions and the social environment in which mathematicians operated, using contemporary commentary where appropriate. No mathematical knowledge is required, and readers with a wide range of interests and backgrounds will find much to enjoy here. The material is presented from an impartial point of view, and provides full references to help any researchers who want to dig deeper into the original sources. The result is a unique insight into the world of Victorian mathematics and science.
Author(s): John Heard
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 278
City: Cambridge
Copyright_page
Dedication
Contents
Figures
Acknowledgements
Notes for the Reader
1 Setting the Scene
2 The Legacy of Newton
3 The London Mathematical Society
4 The Pure Mathematician as Hero
5 Mathematicians in an Aethereal World
6 Apologias for Pure Mathematicians
7 Embracing Beauty
Epilogue
Select Bibliography
Index
