Niels Henrik Abel and His Times

by Stubhaug, Arild; Daly, Richard R.

• ISBN13: 9783540668343
• ISBN10: 3540668349
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-07-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Part I Introduction	1	(33)
A Short Life	3	(30)
Part II Family Background	33	(34)
The Abel Family Tree	35	(10)
Father's Period of Schooling and Study in Denmark	45	(10)
Vicar and Curate	55	(4)
Abel and the Simonsen Family in Risør	59	(8)
Part III Childhood at Gjerstad	67	(72)
Priest at Finnøy, Church Affairs in the Kristiansand Diocese	69	(10)
Niels Henrik's First Years	79	(6)
Childhood Learning, Childhood Faith	85	(4)
Everyday Life in the Shadow of War	89	(8)
Ground Swells from Offshore	97	(6)
New Sounds in City and Hamlet	103	(6)
Home and Abroad, Crises and Turning Points	109	(6)
S. G. Abel Steps into Politics	115	(10)
The Times During Which Niels Henrik Grew Up	125	(6)
Niels Henrik Leaves Home	131	(8)
Part IV Disciple in Christiania, 1815-1821	139	(110)
Meeting A New Era	141	(6)
School Life, Money Worries, and the Joys of the Theatre	147	(14)
Everyday Life in Christiania. S. G. Abel Enters the Public Spotlight	161	(10)
Confirmation and Direction in Life	171	(10)
The Fateful Year, 1818	181	(18)
Christiania, Fall, 1818	199	(2)
Into Mathematical History	201	(12)
School Days and Many More Stories	213	(10)
To the Examen artium and Further Studies	223	(16)
Student and Homeless	239	(10)
Part V Student Life, 1821--1825	249	(72)
Free Room and Board at ``Regentsen''	251	(4)
Examen Philosophicum: The Course of Studies and the Teachers	255	(6)
Student Life and Circle of Friends	261	(10)
Spring and Early Summer, 1822	271	(6)
Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring	277	(10)
Copenhagen - Travel, Summer, 1823	287	(14)
The Quintic Equation and Future Plans	301	(10)
Betrothal and Preparations	311	(10)
Part VI Europe-Travel	321	(108)
Through Copehagen and Hamburg to Berlin	323	(6)
Berlin, October 1825 to March 1826	329	(22)
Via Leipzing to Freiberg	351	(4)
Through Dresden to Prague	355	(14)
To Vienna	369	(10)
From Vienna to Graz and Trieste	379	(6)
Onward to Venice, via Bologna to Bolzano	385	(6)
In the Dolomites, Over to Innsbruck and on to Mount Rigi	391	(4)
Paris, July 10th to December 29th, 1826	395	(26)
The Homeward Journey via Berlin and Copenhagen	421	(8)
Part VII The Last Year in Norway	429	(140)
Back Home	431	(10)
Christiania, Autumn, 1827	441	(10)
From January to July, 1828	451	(8)
The Final Summer	459	(6)
The Final Round, Autumn, 1828	465	(16)
Part VIII
Deathbed	481	(88)
Appendix
1. Chronology	497	(4)
2. Commentaries and Supplementary Readings	501	(44)
3. Chronological Bibliography of Abel's Published Works	545	(8)
4. Annotated Bibliography	553	(16)
Index of Names	569