The Man Who Knew Infinity: Life of the Genius Ramanujan

The Man Who Knew Infinity: Life of the Genius Ramanujan

by RobertKanigel (Author)

Synopsis

In 1913, a young unschooled Indian clerk wrote a letter to G H Hardy, begging the pre-eminent English mathematician's opinion on several ideas he had about numbers. Realising the letter was the work of a genius, Hardy arranged for Srinivasa Ramanujan to come to England. Thus began one of the most improbable and productive collaborations ever chronicled. With a passion for rich and evocative detail, Robert Kanigel takes us from the temples and slums of Madras to the courts and chapels of Cambridge University, where the devout Hindu Ramanujan, 'the Prince of Intuition,' tested his brilliant theories alongside the sophisticated and eccentric Hardy, 'the Apostle of Proof'. In time, Ramanujan's creative intensity took its toll: he died at the age of thirty-two and left behind a magical and inspired legacy that is still being plumbed for its secrets today.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 448
Edition: New Ed
Publisher: Abacus
Published: 10 Dec 1992

ISBN 10: 0349104522
ISBN 13: 9780349104522
Book Overview: * Submitted for trade promotions* Review round-ups

Media Reviews
An exquisite portrait...the rarest of literary achievements...Ramanujan's tale is the stuff of fable * LOS ANGELES TIMES *
an exciting and thoughtful book... should catch the imagination of any reader- even the reader with little mathematical background. * INDEPENDENT *
This is a fine example of a work of popularising mathematics, and deserves a wide readership. * NEW SCIENTIST *
Enthralling... one of the best scientific biographies I've ever seen. * John Gribbin *
Author Bio
Robert Kanigel is the author of six other books, including The Man Who Knew Infinity. After 13 years as professor of science writing at MIT, he has returned to full-time writing in Baltimore.