Overview

This is the fascinating story of two women who lives were guided by a passion for mathematics and an insatiable curiosity to know and understand the world around them -- the beautiful, outrageous Émilie du Châtelet and the charmingly subversive Mary Somerville. Against great odds, Émilie and Mary taught themselves mathematics, and did it so well that they each became a world authority on Newtonian mathematical physics. Seduced by Logic begins with Émilie du Châtelet, an 18th-century French aristocrat, intellectual, and Voltaire's lover, whose true ambition was to be a mathematician. She strove not only to further Newton's ideas in France, but to prove that they had French connections, including to the work of Descartes, whom Newton had read. She translated the great Principia Mathematica into French, in what became the accepted French version of Newton's work, and was instrumental in bringing Newton's revolutionary opus to a Continental audience. A century later, in Scotland, Mary Somerville taught herself mathematics and rose from genteel poverty to become a figure of authority on Newtonian physics. Living in France, she became acquainted with the work of one of Newton's protégés, Pierre Simon Laplace, and translated his six-volume Celestial Mechanics into English. It remained the standard astronomy text for the next century, and was considered the most influential work since Principia. Connected by their love for mathematics, Émilie and Mary bring to life a period of remarkable political and scientific change. Combining biography and history of science, Robyn Arianrhod's book explores the roles both women played in bringing Newton's Principia to a wider audience, and reveals the intimate links between the unfolding Newtonian revolution and the origins of intellectual and political liberty.

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9780199931613

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Reviews

<br> It is impossible not to be caught up in Arianrhod's enthusiasm for her subject and [be] gripped from the first page. --Weekend Australian<br><p><br> An impressively far-reaching book.... Arianrhod takes the wide scope of her book as an opportunity to discuss Newtonian mathematics, the history of the Enlightenment, and women's education, to name just a few of her subjects. And no matter what the topic, her prose is natural, graceful and lucid. --Readings<br><p><br>PRAISE FOR ROBYN ARIANRHOD'S EINSTEIN'S HEROES <br><br> Robyn Arianrhod's passion for mathematics is so infectious, you'll scream 'Eureka' when you read her book. --Herald-Sun<br><p><br> I read this exhilarating book as I would a novel. Arianrhod combines a passion for her subject with an erudition that is rate for a storyteller. --Robyn Williams, ABC'S The Science Show<br><p><br> Robyn Arianrhod has produced a captivating masterpiece, a skillfully woven tapestry of science and history at the center of which are two of the most charismatic women in the story of mathematics. Seduced by Logic is in a class by itself. --Joseph Mazur, author of Euclid In the Rainforest: Discovering Universal Truth in Logic and Math and What's Luck Got to Do with It? The History, Mathematics and Psychology of the Gambler's Illusion<br><p><br> An elegant and inspiring history of how scientific revolutions make their way. -- Edward Dolnick, The Clockwork Universe <br><p><br>

<br> It is impossible not to be caught up in Arianrhod's enthusiasm for her subject and [be] gripped from the first page. --Weekend Australian<br><p><br> An impressively far-reaching book.... Arianrhod takes the wide scope of her book as an opportunity to discuss Newtonian mathematics, the history of the Enlightenment, and women's education, to name just a few of her subjects. And no matter what the topic, her prose is natural, graceful and lucid. --Readings<br><p><br>PRAISE FOR ROBYN ARIANRHOD'S EINSTEIN'S HEROES <br><br> Robyn Arianrhod's passion for mathematics is so infectious, you'll scream 'Eureka' when you read her book. --Herald-Sun<br><p><br> I read this exhilarating book as I would a novel. Arianrhod combines a passion for her subject with an erudition that is rate for a storyteller. --Robyn Williams, ABC'S The Science Show<br><p><br>

<br> a timely reminder of how little things have changed since the 19th century and how much women of science can accomplish. Wall Street Journal<br><p><br><br><p><br> Here is a skillfully written tapestry of the science, history and portrayal of two of the most charismatic women of mathematical science. Robyn Arianrhod has produced a captivating masterpiece that lures us readers into the intrigues and treasures of eighteenth-century scientific life. -- Joseph Mazur, author of Euclid in the Rainforest and What's Luck Got to Do with It?<br><p><br> An elegant and inspiring history of how scientific revolutions make their way. -- Edward Dolnick, The Clockwork Universe<br><br><p><br> For lovers of mathematics, this is the story of two delightful women whose translations and popularizations helped transform Newton's controversial theory of gravitation into [an accepted] natural law. -- Sharon Bertsch McGrayne, author of The Theory that Would Not Die and Prometheans in the Lab<br><br><p><br> It is impossible not to be caught up in Arianrhod's enthusiasm for her subject and [be] gripped from the first page. -- Weekend Australian<br><br><p><br> An impressively far-reaching book... Arianrhod takes the wide scope of her book as an opportunity to discuss Newtonian mathematics, the history of the Enlightenment, and women's education, to name just a few of her subjects. And no matter what the topic, her prose is natural, graceful and lucid. -- Readings<br><br><p><br>PRAISE FOR ROBYN ARIANRHOD'S EINSTEIN'S HEROES <br><br> Robyn Arianrhod's passion for mathematics is so infectious, you'll scream 'Eureka' when you read her book. -- Herald-Sun<br><br><p><br> I read this exhilarating book as I would a novel. Arianrhod combines a passion for her subject with an erudition that is rate for a storyteller. -- Robyn Williams, ABC'S The Science Show<br><p><br>

.. .timely reminder of how little things have changed since the 19th century and how much women of science can accomplish. -- Wall Street Journal Anyone who enjoys the history of science, especially from the underrepresented feminist perspective, should appreciate this well-crafted narrative. Recommended. -- Library Journal Here is a skillfully written tapestry of the science, history and portrayal of two of the most charismatic women of mathematical science. Robyn Arianrhod has produced a captivating masterpiece that lures us readers into the intrigues and treasures of eighteenth-century scientific life. -- Joseph Mazur, author of Euclid in the Rainforest and What's Luck Got to Do with It? An elegant and inspiring history of how scientific revolutions make their way. -- Edward Dolnick, The Clockwork Universe For lovers of mathematics, this is the story of two delightful women whose translations and popularizations helped transform Newton's controversial theory of gravitation into [an accepted] natural law. -- Sharon Bertsch McGrayne, author of The Theory that Would Not Die and Prometheans in the Lab It is impossible not to be caught up in Arianrhod's enthusiasm for her subject and [be] gripped from the first page. -- Weekend Australian An impressively far-reaching book... Arianrhod takes the wide scope of her book as an opportunity to discuss Newtonian mathematics, the history of the Enlightenment, and women's education, to name just a few of her subjects. And no matter what the topic, her prose is natural, graceful and lucid. -- Readings PRAISE FOR ROBYN ARIANRHOD'S EINSTEIN'S HEROES Robyn Arianrhod's passion for mathematics is so infectious, you'll scream 'Eureka' when you read her book. -- Herald-Sun I read this exhilarating book as I would a novel. Arianrhod combines a passion for her subject with an erudition that is rate for a storyteller

<br><br><p><br><br><p><br> Here is a skillfully written tapestry of the science, history and portrayal of two of the most charismatic women of mathematical science. Robyn Arianrhod has produced a captivating masterpiece that lures us readers into the intrigues and treasures of eighteenth-century scientific life. -- Joseph Mazur, author of Euclid in the Rainforest and What's Luck Got to Do with It?<br><p><br> An elegant and inspiring history of how scientific revolutions make their way. -- Edward Dolnick, The Clockwork Universe<br><br><p><br> For lovers of mathematics, this is the story of two delightful women whose translations and popularizations helped transform Newton's controversial theory of gravitation into [an accepted] natural law. -- Sharon Bertsch McGrayne, author of The Theory that Would Not Die and Prometheans in the Lab<br><br><p><br> It is impossible not to be caught up in Arianrhod's enthusiasm for her subject and [be] gripped from the first page. -- Weekend Australian<br><br><p><br> An impressively far-reaching book... Arianrhod takes the wide scope of her book as an opportunity to discuss Newtonian mathematics, the history of the Enlightenment, and women's education, to name just a few of her subjects. And no matter what the topic, her prose is natural, graceful and lucid. -- Readings<br><br><p><br>PRAISE FOR ROBYN ARIANRHOD'S EINSTEIN'S HEROES <br><br> Robyn Arianrhod's passion for mathematics is so infectious, you'll scream 'Eureka' when you read her book. -- Herald-Sun<br><br><p><br> I read this exhilarating book as I would a novel. Arianrhod combines a passion for her subject with an erudition that is rate for a storyteller. -- Robyn Williams, ABC'S The Science Show<br><p><br>

<br> It is impossible not to be caught up in Arianrhod's enthusiasm for her subject and [be] gripped from the first page. --Weekend Australian<br><p><br> An impressively far-reaching book.... Arianrhod takes the wide scope of her book as an opportunity to discuss Newtonian mathematics, the history of the Enlightenment, and women's education, to name just a few of her subjects. And no matter what the topic, her prose is natural, graceful and lucid. --Readings<br><p><br>PRAISE FOR ROBYN ARIANRHOD'S EINSTEIN'S HEROES <br> Robyn Arianrhod's passion for mathematics is so infectious, you'll scream 'Eureka' when you read her book. --Herald-Sun<br><p><br> I read this exhilarating book as I would a novel. Arianrhod combines a passion for her subject with an erudition that is rate for a storyteller. --Robyn Williams, ABC'S The Science Show<br><p><br> Robyn Arianrhod has produced a captivating masterpiece, a skillfully woven tapestry of science and history at the center of which are two of the most charismatic women in the story of mathematics. Seduced by Logic is in a class by itself. --Joseph Mazur, author of Euclid In the Rainforest: Discovering Universal Truth in Logic and Math and What's Luck Got to Do with It? The History, Mathematics and Psychology of the Gambler's Illusion<br><p><br> An elegant and inspiring history of how scientific revolutions make their way. -- Edward Dolnick, The Clockwork Universe <br><p><br> Here is a skillfully written tapestry of the science, history and portrayal of two of the most charismatic women of mathematical science. Robyn Arianrhod has produced a captivating masterpiece that lures us readers into the intrigues and treasures of eighteenth century scientific life. <br>--Joseph Mazur, author of Euclid in the Rainforest and What's Luck Got to Do with It? <br><p><br> For lovers of mathematics, this is the story of two delightful women whose translations and popularizations helped transform Newton's controversial theory of gravitatio

Author Information

Robyn Arianrhod is an Honorary Research Associate in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Monash University. She is the author of Einstein's Heroes.

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