Pythagoras' Revenge: A Mathematical Mystery

• Publisher:   Princeton University Press
• Number Of Pages:   224
• Publication Date:   2009-05-10
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   0691049556
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9780691049557

The celebrated mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras left no writings. But what if he had and the manuscript was never found? Where would it be located? And what information would it reveal? These questions are the inspiration for the mathematical mystery novel Pythagoras' Revenge. Suspenseful and instructive, Pythagoras' Revenge weaves fact, fiction, mathematics, computer science, and ancient history into an entertaining story.

Jule Davidson, a young American mathematician, answers difficult math riddles on the Internet and stumbles upon a neo-Pythagorean sect searching for the promised reincarnation of Pythagoras. Across the ocean, Elmer Galway, a professor of classical history at Oxford, discovers an Arabic manuscript hinting at the existence of an ancient scroll--possibly left by Pythagoras himself. Unknown to one another, Jule and Elmer each have information that the other requires and, as they race to solve the philosophical and mathematical puzzles set before them, their paths ultimately collide. Set in 1998 with flashbacks to classical Greece, Pythagoras' Revenge investigates the confrontation between opposing views of mathematics and reality, and explores ideas from both early and cutting-edge mathematics.

From academic Oxford to suburban Chicago and historic Rome, Pythagoras' Revenge is a sophisticated thriller that will grip readers from beginning to surprising end.

Masterfully written gripping plot with unexpected ending.
Fully suspenseful all along.
Mathematically instructive even for the novice.
Philosophically challenging.
Technically well documented.
Historically substantiated.
Vividly depicting numerous colourful characters, old and recent times and obscure places.
Highly recommended.
A literary jewel.

Anyone with some knowledge of mathematics is familiar with the Pythagorean theorem, for a right triangle the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the sides. What is probably not known is the history of Pythagoras himself. Born in the sixth century BC he developed during his lifetime into a philosopher and mathematician, leader of a group of followers obsessed with the idea that through numbers one could explain the concepts of the world. He left no written record of his philosophy. The fictional account here details the action of various groups seeking a so called manuscript written by Pythagoras. The well written narrative with its many twists and surprises will keep readers eager to follow its development. There are digressions intermingled with the story introducing various mathematical concepts.

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