The Mathematician Sophus Lie : It Was the Audacity of My Thinking

Sophus Lie (1842-1899) is without doubt one of Norway's greatest scientific talents. His mathematical works have made him famous around the world no less than Niels Henrik Abel. The terms Lie groups and Lie algebra are today part of the standard mathematical vocabulary. In his comprehensive biography the author Arild Stubhaug let us come close to both the person Sophus Lie and his time. We follow him through childhood at the vicarage in Nordfjordeid, his growing up in Moss, school and studying in Christiania, travelling in Europe and his contacts with the leading mathematicians of his time. The academic and scientific career brought Lie from Christiania to Leipzig as professor, before the attempt to call him back to Norway, when she stood on the threshhold to national sovereignty, was successful. Front Matter....Pages I-XI Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Tracking Him Down: A Torrent of Stories....Pages 3-23 Front Matter....Pages 25-25 The Family Tree....Pages 27-32 The Priestly Family at Nordfjordeid....Pages 33-46 Father’s Home in Moss....Pages 47-55 Front Matter....Pages 57-57 Nissen’s School . Examen Artium....Pages 59-70 Student Life....Pages 71-94 The Lack of a Calling....Pages 95-104 Front Matter....Pages 105-105 Into Mathematical History....Pages 107-115 There was a Mathematician in Him....Pages 116-120 The First Tour Abroad....Pages 121-152 Parliamentary Professor....Pages 153-166 Front Matter....Pages 167-167 “My Inner Life Has Been Most Mighty”....Pages 169-204 “My Life’s Good Fortune”....Pages 205-219 Marriage at Last....Pages 220-229 Herr Professor mit seiner Gemahlin....Pages 230-238 In the Lee of “the Modern Breakthrough”....Pages 239-258 A Steady Stream of Works....Pages 259-277 The Mathematical Milieu at Home and Abroad....Pages 278-298 “It is Lonely, Terribly Lonely”....Pages 299-311 Summoned to Leipzig....Pages 312-322 Front Matter....Pages 323-323 The Coming Period: A More Difficult Balancing Act....Pages 325-330 In the Big City of Leipzig....Pages 331-349 Breakdown....Pages 350-359 Fame....Pages 360-377 Conflicts....Pages 378-397 Norwegian Students....Pages 398-405 Back to Norway....Pages 406-431 Front Matter....Pages 433-433 The Final Years....Pages 435-452 Back Matter....Pages 453-555

Sophus Lie (1842-1899) is one of Norways greatest scientific talents. His mathematical works have made him famous around the world no less than Niels Henrik Abel. The terms "Lie groups" and "Lie algebra" are part of the standard mathematical vocabulary. In his comprehensive biography the author Arild Stubhaug introduces us to both the person Sophus Lie and his time. We follow him through: childhood at the vicarage in Nordfjordeid; his youthful years in Moss; education in Christiania; travels in Europe; and learn about his contacts with the leading mathematicians of his time.

The Measure and the Goal of a Life Family Background and Upbringing School and Education In Tune with the Times Professor in Christiania Professor in Leipzig At the End of the Road Appendices.