The French Mathematician

by Tom Petsinis

After NapolTon's exile, with France in turmoil, Evarist Galois turns away from the world to concentrate on his passion, mathematics, but the suspicious nature of his father's death forces him back into society where he soon joins the Republican cause. Reprint.

Genres: Mathematics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, France, Literature

426 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this unread in my physical bookshelf. Twenty years old but what a story. Loved it. Probably best for science or mathematics aficionados. It was written as a work for a Master of Arts degree, but it is a wonderful view of a mathematical genius. Evariste Galois was an undoubted genius, inventing new sciences of abstract algebra and group theory which are the basis for a lot of modern science including computing, quantum physics and cryptography.
Few took him seriously and the senior mathematicians of the time took offence at his precociousness. The author is a mathematician and takes us on a wonderful expose of the life, self torture, thought processes of a genius mathematician, who simply couldn't understand why others didn't see things as easily as he did. Why go through the tedious process of describing every step when you can just go straight to the important bits.
He may not be a likable character to most, but he certainly did a lot for the world in a four year long journey into mathematics. A very gritty, poetic science history read written as fiction.

[Karyl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm kind of angry at myself for spending so long on this book. To be honest, it dragged so very much. I had so little sympathy for the main character, as he was a man who was extremely unlikeable, that I wasn't even that bothered by his death at the end. I also didn't like the use of the "imaginary biographer" that the author employed. It didn't seem necessary when the book was already written in the first person. It felt very stilted every time Galois mentioned his "imaginary biographer." While there are a few sentences that struck my fancy in the way they evoked images, most of the prose flew over my head, especially when the author began speaking of math. I would advise a reader to put this book down without reading it, unless someone really has a burning passion to know more about Evariste Galois. And then I would probably suggest that there is a better biography out there.

[Kim Soto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up at the library while on an historical-fiction kick. Thought it would be something a little different from all the stories of the kings & queens.
Sigh. I didn't finish, I kept hoping something would happen and it kept not happening. That the kid was a mathematical genius, I have no doubt. That he was obsessive and socially awkward, I wouldn't be surprised in the least. Galois was neither sympathetic or totally antithetic, he became boring.
If it weren't for the pile of other inviting books I brought home from the library, I might have optimistically powered through. But they were there and I did not. And I don't really regret it.

[Amalasuntha · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most irritating books I have ever persisted with reading. Wish I hadn't. Karyl's review is exactly my response so will leave it at that.

[Anne Jove · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best life story I've read so far. The author made it funny, inspiring, interesting and thought-provoking. I can't get it off my mind even months after reading it.

[Katelis Viglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Η ανάγνωση αυτού του βιογραφικού μυθιστορήματος του Τομ Πετσίνη, για τον διάσημο Γάλλο μαθηματικό Εβαρίστ Γκαλουά, ήταν εύκολη και ευχάριστη. Πάντως δεν περιείχε πολλές πληροφορίες για τα μαθηματικά του Εβαρίστ Γκαλουά. Θα ήθελα τιο βιβλίο αυτό να περιέχει περισσότερα στοιχεία για το έργο του Γάλλου μαθηματικού που πέθανε 21 χρονών σε μια μονομαχία. Εντάξει, καταλαβαίνω ότι τα άπαντά του είναι μόνον 60 σελίδες. Όμως στο ResearchGate βρίσκει κανείς εκατοντάδες εργασίες που εκκινούν από τα μαθηματικά του Γκαλουά. Πάντως συνιστώ αυτό το βιβλίο σε νέους μαθηαματικούς... είναι εμπνευστικό, θα τους συνεπάρει. Η ταύτιση με τον ήρωα του μυθιστορήματος είναι άμεση και προκαλείται εντέχνως από τον συγγραφέα, είναι μέσα στις προθέσεις του., παρόλο τον σχετικό αυτοσαρκασμό του. Με άλλα λόγια, ο ήρωάς του σε κάποιο σημείο ειρωνεύεται όσους ταυτίζονται με μυθιστορηματικά πρόσωπα και όχι με τις μαθηματικές έννοιες... τις οποίές βλέπει μπροστά του με τη μορφή οραμάτων. Τις βλέπει ξεκάθαρα, βλέπει αποδείξεις, αλγεβρικούς τύπους, εξισώσεις. Ακόμα έχει ενοράσεις με τις αποδείξεις των θεωρημάτων της Ευκλείδειας Γεωμετρίας. Πρόκειται για κάτι γνήσιο. Εκτός των άλλων, ο συγγραφέας μας μεταφέρει πραγματικά στην εποχή εκείνη.

[Willem Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enigszins treurig verhaal. Het was interessant om te lezen, maar de moedeloosheid voerde de boventoon. Het boek vertelt de geschiedenis van een grote wiskundige die niet tot zijn recht kwam door onder andere de Franse Revolutie, de afgunst van mede wiskundigen aan de Universiteit en dat hij in sommige opzichten zijn tijd vooruit was. Het laat duidelijk zien hoe het potentieel van een mens de juiste omgeving nodig heeft om tot bloei te kunnen komen. Dit is een verhaal van iemand waarbij dat niet gegund was.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get into this at all. The parts about math were sometimes interesting and I was interested in the 1832 rebellion. But the story didn't really focus on either, just on the ramblings of the completely-unsympathetic main character. I don't know if the real Galois was anything like the person portrayed here, but the book version is a complete and total asshole. I hated him and his superiority complex from the beginning and I dreaded reading further. It just never got better.

[Julie Moronuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this, finding that both the at-times overwrought writing and the unlikeable personality of young Evariste matched other things I've read about him and brought him to life as a character. It's very hard to be likeable when your own thoughts make big intuitive leaps that others have a hard time following. This book did drag a little in a couple of places and I wish there had been more mathematical detail, particularly since the author teaches mathematics.

[Steve Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A one-time hero of my youth, Evariste Galois was a brilliant young French mathematician, who died tragically in a duel before his genius was recognised. Petsinis tells his story, as a first-person narrative. Sometimes a little heavy going, because, lets face it, Galois was pretty obnoxious (probably autistic, possibly schizophrenic). However, the story is interesting enough and the book well written, so it holds the attention to the last page.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Math lovers, this book is for you! Tom Petsinis take readers into the mind of a young, remarkable and ambitious mathematician.

[Jason Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

not good

[Llumi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read with excellent writing!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary.

[Kostas Kiousis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few maths, a lot of poetic narrative. Reads like a movie. Touching in its depth on emotional depiction and psychoanalytical mastery.

[Bitsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sharing this review for posterity’s sake, this is the very first review I ever wrote and posted online. I blogged this review over ten years ago on December 13, 2001. I meant to post it here on its ten year anniversary but the holidays got in the way. Instead I am posting it today to kick off a new year with. This review is full of spoilers (seriously, it spoils just about the whole book) and is really more of a book report than a review but I can definitely see some of my beginnings in this and so I decided what better way to start a new year than with my start in book blogging. Enjoy!

"The French Mathematician" started out life as a project that was submitted for a Master of Arts degree entitled "A Fictional Biography of the French Mathematician Evariste Galois 1811-1832". The author, Tom Petsinis set out to link the humanities and the sciences in a piece of writing that would tell the tragic tale of Evariste Galois in such a way so that writing majors might be able understand the type of mathematics that Evariste fathered and also the man himself. Petsinis is a professor who teaches mathematics at the University of Technology. And, he came across Evariste's story while attending a lecture on Group Theory, a branch of mathematics based on Galois's discoveries. The book is a well-written three-part biography with an excellent choice in writing style. It is very accurate for a book about whose subject there is such a small amount of information available on. Following is a summary and review of the various parts of "The French Mathematician" in the order that they appear in the book, for the most part.

There is no introduction, just acknowledgements of the support of various professors during the undertaking of this endeavor.

The first chapter is written as though it should be tacked on to the end, but is instead written at the beginning. The conclusion, on the other hand, simply gives what the fate of Evariste's discoveries was to be.

Part one summarizes Evariste's introduction and love affair with mathematics, his undying faith in the "x" and the power of that "x" to replace the cross and change the world to a place of order. Something Evariste believed would come about with the (French) Revolution. That the revolution would lead from chaos to mathematical precision. He believed in the power of mathematics.

Part two shows Evariste's change of loyalties as he is swept up into the revolution. With the death of his father on his conscience and a need to prove himself and make himself great after being locked behind school walls during the outbreak of violence in the streets of Paris. He forsakes mathematics for the sword and the flame, wreaking buildings and joining various Republican organizations. He seems crazed at this point, thinking violence and a complete rebuilding of the French empire will be the only path to a Republican era.

Part three illustrates Evariste's slow return to mathematics. He still clings to his Republican ideals but he begins slowly coming around to recognizing and nurturing his love of mathematics. He begins to write and submit works again and even holds a series of public speeches where he lays out his theories and proofs for his work. Throughout this section you watch as he is torn between mathematics and republican ideals. And he never really decides either way when he is arrested and imprisoned for six months for his part in the revolution. While in prison he becomes very sick so he is transferred to a hospital where he meets and falls in love with the Doctor's daughter. Unfortunately she is only flirting with him and when her fiance (one of Evariste's good friends) returns to Paris, his friend is forced to challenge Evariste to a duel.

I find that the writing is reminiscent of the style of writing popular during Evariste's time (1811-1832). Prone to detail and more advanced diction then what is commonly known today, the book could almost pass for the diary/notebook the author "claims" it is. Unfortunately when referring to acts of a sexual nature the writer approaches the subject more blatantly than a writer of the nineteenth century would and uses far less subtltey. "The French Mathematician" is an excellent read that is recommended for English and Math majors alike.

[2Tall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, well researched (both on the math and on the revolution of 1830) and interesting for that. But Evariste Galois, the protagonist, is extremely unlikeable so it’s hard to get into a reading rush or develop any sort of sympathy or even empathy. Wish it had more on group theory; it kind of glossed over the breakthrough of Evariste’s thinking. So the book dragged on for me, except for the parts where either the math or the history takes over. But for the bulk of the book, the narrative focused on Evariste’s annoying musings and fanaticism - intentionally, I presume, and well crafted, but it’s not often that I feel at the end that I’m glad he’s finally dead and that the book is over. It’s a good book that I didn’t love.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this work of historical fiction a 3-star rating as an average: I would rate it 4 for writing and 2 for story. The prose is really lovely, engaging all the senses and weaving a compelling portrait of life (and math) in Paris in the 1800s. Unfortunately I just couldn't bring myself to like the main character. I don't fault the characterization by the author; I suspect I wouldn't have liked Galois in real life either. A tricky subjected handled deftly but not entirely successfully, from my point of view.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A one-time hero of my youth, Evariste Galois was a brilliant young French mathematician, who died tragically in a duel before his genius was recognised. Petsinis tells his story, as a first-person narrative. Sometimes a little heavy going, because, lets face it, Galois was pretty obnoxious (probably autistic, possibly schizophrenic). However, the story is interesting enough and the book well written, so it holds the attention to the last page.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great historical fiction novel about Galois. Anyone with any bend toward mathematics will find this a fascinating read. It really gives you some insight into "the mathematical mind". For those of you who are not number inclinded, dont worry. It is a good read for that particular time period!

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some of the writing in praise of math, but the Revolution left me cold. I couldn't bond with any of the characters, so it was unsatisfying for me. I was very interested to notice that the novel was written for his Masters degree work, and it was probably the most entertaining Master's thesis written about Galois and the French Revolution.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical novel concerns the short, tortured life of the French Mathematician, Evariste Galois. It highlights the odd juxtaposition of his dazzlingly intuitive, mathematical mind and his irrational, angry participation in the society trying to restore the Republic in France after Napoleon's downfall and the restoration of the monarchy.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Racconto/romanzo di formazione. Molto bello se viene letto a sedici anni, pesante e inutile altrimenti. Usa un linguaggio barocco, eccessivamente ridondante. Piacevole. È la storia, molto romanzata e immaginaria, di Evariste de Galois. Giovane prodigio matematico francese morto in duello per una donna, ucciso dall'uomo che - sostiene Petsinis - amava.

[Caleigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Booooorrrrriiiing! This is a fictionalized memoir of a real man, and the author tried WAY too hard to be authentic. I was certain that if I read the word "mathematics" one more time I would scream. Too bad - if it had been more thoroughly edited it could have been interesting.

[Rebecca]

I started reading this once, and got about half way through before I got distracted. I am going to try again.

[Jade17 · Rating 3 out of 5]

With absolutely no interest in Mathematics (nor skill), it's a wonder that I even finished and even liked this novel but I really did.

[sharad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surrealism and mathematics.

[Sayyid]

fascinating, you cannot stop reading. i hated maths too much, but this wonderful novel makes me love it too much. i think this is the role of literature.