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  • © 2000

NIELS HENRIK ABEL and his Times

Called Too Soon by Flames Afar

Authors:

  • The only modern biography of N.H.Abel (the other main biography by Ore was published 1957 in English)
  • Abel is one of the exceptional geniuses in mathematics
  • A. Stubhaug is both a historian and a mathematician, and he was awarded the most prestigious literary prize in Norway for his Abel biography
  • The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to have a book launching event for the English edition in London
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (49 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-X
  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. A Short Life

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 3-31
  3. Family Background

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 33-33
    2. The Abel Family Tree

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 35-44
    3. Vicar and Curate

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 55-57
    4. Abel and the Simonsen Family in Risør

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 59-65
  4. Childhood in Gjerstad

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 67-67
    2. Niels Henrik’s First Years

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 79-84
    3. Childhood Learning, Childhood Faith

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 85-88
    4. Everyday Life in the Shadow of War

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 89-95
    5. Ground Swells from Offshore

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 97-101
    6. New Sounds in City and Hamlet

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 103-107
    7. Home and Abroad, Crises and Turning Points

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 109-114
    8. S. G. Abel Steps into Politics

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 115-123
    9. The Times during which Niels Henrik Grew Up

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 125-129
    10. Niels Henrik Leaves Home

      • Arild Stubhaug
      Pages 131-137
  5. Disciple in Christiania, 1815–1821

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 139-139

About this book

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.

Reviews

"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 Hawkinshave '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

 

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hyggen, Norway

    Arild Stubhaug

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: NIELS HENRIK ABEL and his Times

  • Book Subtitle: Called Too Soon by Flames Afar

  • Authors: Arild Stubhaug

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04076-8

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2000

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-540-66834-3Published: 26 April 2000

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-08610-6Published: 01 December 2010

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-662-04076-8Published: 17 April 2013

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: X, 580

  • Number of Illustrations: 27 b/w illustrations, 15 illustrations in colour

  • Additional Information: Original Norwegian edition published by H. Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard), Oslo, 1996

  • Topics: Language and Literature, Mathematics, general, Physics, general, Computer Science, general, Engineering, general

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access