A History of Greek Mathematics, Volume I: From Thales to Euclid
SKU: 29560583182

A History of Greek Mathematics, Volume I: From Thales to Euclid

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A History of Greek Mathematics, Volume I: From Thales to Euclid"As it is, the book is indispensable; it has, indeed, no serious English rival." Times Literary Supplement. "Sir Thomas Heath, foremost English historian of the ancient exact sciences in the twentieth century." Professor W. H. Stahl "Indeed, seeing that so much of Greek is mathematics, it is arguable that, if one would understand the Greek genius fully, it would be a good plan to begin with their geometry." The perspective that enabled Sir Thomas

"As it is, the book is indispensable; it has, indeed, no serious English rival." -- Times Literary Supplement.
"Sir Thomas Heath, foremost English historian of the ancient exact sciences in the twentieth century." -- Professor W. H. Stahl
"Indeed, seeing that so much of Greek is mathematics, it is arguable that, if one would understand the Greek genius fully, it would be a good plan to begin with their geometry."
The perspective that enabled Sir Thomas Heath to understand the Greek genius -- deep intimacy with languages, literatures, philosophy, and all the sciences -- brought him perhaps closer to his beloved subjects and to their own ideal of educated men, than is common or even possible today. Heath read the original texts with a critical, scrupulous eye, and brought to this definitive two-volume history the insights of a mathematician communicated with the clarity of classically taught English.
"Of all the manifestations of the Greek genius none is more impressive and even awe-inspiring than that which is revealed by the history of Greek mathematics." Heath records that history with the scholarly comprehension and comprehensiveness that marks this work as obviously classic now as when it first appeared in 1921. The linkage and unity of mathematics and philosophy suggest the outline for the entire history. Heath covers in sequence Greek numerical notation, Pythagorean arithmetic, Thales and Pythagorean geometry, Zeno, Plato, Euclid, Aristarchus, Archimedes, Apollonius, Hipparchus and trigonometry, Ptolemy, Heron, Pappus, Diophantus of Alexandria and the algebra. Interspersed are sections devoted to the history and analysis of famous problems: squaring the circle, angle trisection, duplication of the cube, and an appendix on Archimedes' proof of the subtangent property of a spiral. The coverage is everywhere thorough and judicious; but Heath is not content with plain exposition:
It is a defect in the existing histories that, while they state generally the contents of, and the main propositions proved in, the great treatises of Archimedes and Apollonius, they make little attempt to describe the procedure by which the results are obtained. I have therefore taken pains, in the most significant cases, to show the course of the argument in sufficient detail to enable a competent mathematician to grasp the method used and to apply it, if he will, to other similar investigations.
Mathematicians, then, will rejoice to find Heath back in print and accessible after many years. Historians of Greek culture and science can renew acquaintance with a standard reference; readers in general will find, particularly in the energetic discourses on Euclid and Archimedes, exactly what Heath means by impressive and awe-inspiring.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 05/01/1981
ISBN: 9780486240732
Pages: 464
Weight: 1.23lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 0.90d
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SKU: 29560583182

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Alex Lamberd
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
One of the best Bat stories that I've read.
Format: Paperback
Coming off from The Long Halloween, Jeff Loeb and Tim Sale give us the sequel to their popular story tale in which we see Batman go at it with another year long mystery, while also giving us an origin story for the first Robin, Dick Grayson. After reading this book, I have come away having with even more love of the Dark Knight's mythology, while coming to see this as my favorite Batman story that I have read, even if it doesn't stand as well on its own. ON the narrative side of things, Loeb delivers a story fairly similar to the one he gave in The Long Halloween, though I feel this one is a bit more polished than Halloween was. Some have said that the retreading of plot structure have limited the way Loeb's later works are read, but I myself have no problem with it (for the most part), Loeb manages to do enough differently that you don't feel like you're reading the exact same story. The real big negative I'd have to give this graphic novel is that it really doesn't stand as well by itself than if you had read The Long Halloween. While I myself read that story before coming in to this one, I did see many connections that I would assume would through off any newcomers who hadn't read the prior story. But I will say that this is the story that had me invested the most emotionally. Without giving away any spoilers, that last page in the novel gave me such a cathartic experience that I really came to appreciate certain aspects of the Dark Knight's mythology, and how themes of loneliness were touched upon in a very genuine way. Looking at the art for the novel, Sale's work has improved much from The Long Halloween. I always mention in reviews concerning Sale that I was originally not a fan of his art, but after going through his work, you can't help but admire the level skill he manages to put in his drawings. There is a very big noir feeling in this novel (a plus for ) that is just delivered so well that any preferences in art I may have against Sale are put away in admiring the way he plays with lighting in the story. My biggest complaint for the art, which is a more of a personal thing really, is that I do not like the "pixie" costume they gave Robin (which is his default costume that many would associate him with). I have never really liked this costume, probably never will, but again, this is just me. Overall, I would say I really enjoyed the novel and would have to recommend it to any fans of the Batman (although I'd make sure you have read The Long Halloween first). This has come to be one of my most favorited Batman stories I've read, and I hope others will receive the same level of satisfaction that I have.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2014
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Logan Fogg
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
MUST READ
Format: Kindle
Best Batman! This and the long Halloween are peak! Listening and reading the dc high vol on spotify is amazing
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Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2025
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Harrison Nowak
Houston, US
★★★★★ 4
Good sequel but not as good as the original.
Format: Paperback
Pretty good read only down side is it doesn’t quite live up to Long Halloween.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2026
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Kurt
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Sequel to Long Halloween
Format: Paperback
This takes all of the great elements of the Long Halloween and keeps it going. The two of those books together is a great story telling. Ticks all the boxes of a great Batman book. If you like this and Long Halloween check out The Penguin show on HBO Max. and if you like The Penguin but haven't read these two books you should since the show pulls a lot of influence from them.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
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kindlemom1 (My Guilty Obsession Blog)
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Worth the price!
Format: Paperback
Great set!
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Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2025

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