Calculating the Limits of Poetic License:
Fictional Narrative and the History of Mathematics

The present article elaborates on a talk presented at the first "Mathematics and Narrative" conference (Mykonos, July 12-15, 2005). I am indebted to the organizers for their kind invitation, to the staff for their diligent assistance, and to the participants for illuminating talks and discussions that helped preparing this web-based version.

For the text-only version in Configurations, click here.  (Configurations 15 (3) (2007), 195-226.)

For the German version , click here.   ("Berechnungen zur Grenze der poetischen Freiheit. Fiktionales Erzählen und die Geschichte der Mathematik", in Andrea Albrecht et al (eds.) Zahlen, Zeichen und Figuren Mathematische Inspirationen in Kunst und Literatur, Berlin: De Gruyter (2011), pp. 564-599.)

For a full, web-based version of the article, follow the links below.

 

Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Mathematics, History and Narrative - Three Kinds of Texts
	Unguru on History and Mathematics
	The Royal Road to Me
	Mathematics, History, Fiction
3. Suspension of Disbelief
	Coleridge on Suspension of Disbelief
	Borges on Fact and Fiction
4. Some Specific Examples
	Uncle Petros
		Carathéodory
		Hilbert
	Partition
5. Dramatizing the History of Mathematics
	Singh on Fermat
	History of Science as Epic Theater
6. Concluding Remarks - Can Mathematics in Fiction Interfere with Mathematical Reality?

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