The Romance of Mathematics / Being the Original Researches of a Lady Professor of Girtham College in Polemical Science, with some Account of the Social Properties of a Conic; Equations to Brain Waves; Social Forces; and the Laws of Political Motion.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26481

Title

The Romance of Mathematics / Being the Original Researches of a Lady Professor of Girtham College in Polemical Science, with some Account of the Social Properties of a Conic; Equations to Brain Waves; Social Forces; and the Laws of Political Motion.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A witty Victorian satire by P. Hampson, this novel introduces the fictional Lady Professor of Girtham College, who applies mathematical principles to politics and society. Through her groundbreaking 'Polemical Mathematics,' she argues that social stability, national cohesion, and even marriage can be calculated like geometric curves. Blending high-minded scientific theory with sharp social commentary on female education and women's rights, the book offers a humorous yet profound exploration of applying logic to the chaotic world of human affairs.

Summary up to 500 words

The Romance of Mathematics presents the fictional papers and lectures of a brilliant female mathematician from Girtham College, discovered in a desk by a male editor who publishes them for the public good. The narrative begins with the Professor's student-era essays, where she fiercely critiques the limitations placed on female education. She mocks the 'torturing ingenuity' of male examiners who believe women cannot handle complex mathematics, arguing instead that the female brain is capable of equal intellectual exertion. She posits that women should be admitted to the counsels of the nation to provide a 'leavening influence' against corruption. The core of the work is the development of 'Polemical Mathematics,' a pseudoscience mapping social and political phenomena onto geometric shapes. The Professor represents nations as conic sections: England is an ellipse, while Ireland is a problematic parabola outside the main curve. She applies laws of physics to politics, suggesting that centrifugal forces (revolutionary tendencies) must be counteracted by the attractive force of loyalty to the monarch, much like planetary orbits. She theorizes that 'Polemical Cohesion' is essential for state stability, drawing parallels between family unity and national unity. She argues that monogamy is essential for political greatness, whereas polygamy destroys state cohesion. The narrative includes correspondence from high-ranking officials, such as a Prime Minister at Downing Street, who eagerly seeks her advice on solving political crises using her mathematical models. He asks if Spain can be treated as a specific curve and if the 'elliptical government' is undergoing a revolutionary parabolic shift. Conversely, the book satirizes the 'Aesthetic and Dress Improvement Association,' which complains about her dismissal of artistic dress in favor of mathematical rigor. The story concludes with a poignant diary entry where the Professor faces a dilemma: a student she loves proposes marriage, but university regulations forbid married women from holding professorships. She must choose between her scientific career and her personal happiness. The book ends with the editor revealing that the Professor has resigned her post to marry him, sacrificing her career for love, thus resolving the conflict between science and sentiment.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• Satire