Constantin Carathéodory : mathematics and politics in turbulent times

With breathtaking detail, Maria Georgiadou sheds light on the work and life of Constantin Carathéodory, who until now has been ignored by historians. In her thought-provoking book, Georgiadou maps out the mathematician’s oeuvre, life and turbulent historical surroundings. Descending from the Greek élite of Constantinople, Carathéodory graduated from the military school of Brussels, became engineer at the Assiout dam in Egypt and finally dedicated a lifetime to mathematics and education. He significantly contributed to: calculus of variations, the theory of point set measure, the theory of functions of a real variable, pdes, and complex function theory. An exciting and well-written biography, once started, difficult to put down. Constantin Carathéodory - Mathematics and Politics in Turbulent Times is the biography of a mathematician, born in Berlin in 1873, who became famous during his life time, but has hitherto been ignored by historians for half a century since his death in 1950, in Munich. In a thought-provoking approach, Maria Georgiadou devotes to Constantin Carathéodory all the attention such a personality deserves. With breathtaking detail and the appropriate scrutiny she elucidates his oeuvre, life and turbulent political and historical surroundings. A descendant of the the Greek élite of Constantinople, Carathéodory graduated from the military school of Brussels, became engineer at the Assiout dam in Egypt and finally dedicated a life of effort to mathematics and education. He studied and embarked on an international academic career, haunted by wars, catastrophes and personal tragedies. Over the last years of his life, he stayed in Munich despite World War II, an ambiguous decision upon which the author sheds unprecedented light. Carathéodory's most significant mathematical contributions were to the calculus of variations, the theory of point set measure and the theory of functions of a real variable, pde's, also to complex function theory. The interdisciplinary nature of the text allows easy access for both scholars and readers with a general interest in mathematics, politics and history. The thoroughness of the author's research and evaluations is certain to leave everyone impressed and more knowledgeable Constantin Carathéodory (Berlin 1873-1950 Munich) - Mathematics and Politics in Turbulent Times is a biography of a mathematician who became famous during his life, but has hitherto been ignored by historians for half a century after his death. In a thought-provoking approach, Maria Georgiadou devotes to Constantin Carathéodory all the attention such a personality deserves. With breathtaking detail and the appropriate scrutiny she elucidates his oeuvre, life and turbulent political/historical surroundings: descending from the Greek élite of Constantinople, Carathéodory graduated from the military school of Brussels, became engineer at the Assiout dam in Egypt and finally dedicated a life of effort to mathematics and education. He studied and embarked on an international academic career, haunted by wars, catastrophes and personal tragedies. Over the last years of his life, he stayed in Munich despite World War II, an ambiguous decision upon which the author sheds unprecedented light. Carathéodory's most significant mathematical contributions were to the calculus of variations, the theory of point set measure, and the theory of functions of a real variable, pdes, also to complex function theory. The interdisciplinarity of the text allows easy access for both scholars and readers with a general interest in mathematics, politics and history. The thoroughness of the author's research and evaluations is certain to leave everyone impressed and more knowledgeable. "Caratheodory's life is characterised by the world events of his time. He lived through the golden age of mathematics in Germany, as well as two world wars and the darkest period of Germany's recent history. The course he steered involved momentous personal and professional decisions. This book explores all these facets and attempts to understand this great mathematician's - so far little known - scientific, political, cultural and personal motives and ambitions."--Jacket