Book Description
mhe true story of famous mathematician Sofya Kovalevskayas struggle to obtain an education against all oddsSay what you know, do what you must, come what may. Sofya Kovalevskaya wrote this motto on one of her groundbreaking mathematics papers (On the Problem of the Rotation of a Solid Body about a Fixed Point), and she lived her life by it.ussia, 1865. Revolution is brewing. Women are oppressed. Sofya Krukovskaya and her sister Anya are prepared to do anything to free themselves of that oppression, including arranging sham marriages so they might study abroad. When ex-revolutionary Vladimir Kovalevsky chooses the young, scientific Sofya over the beautiful and charismatic Anya, Sofyas life changes forever.As her pursuit of a doctorate in mathematics becomes a fight against all odds, she realizes she is falling in love with Vladimir, who has loved her since the day they met. But their divergent paths of study, and Sofyas fears that their love will lead tomotherhood before she obtains her degree, drive them apart. As they go their separate ways with brave promises, the turbulence of the Paris Commune of 1871 nearly claims her sisters life and Sofya is called to her aid. Must Sofya choose between love and science? Or can she and Vladimir compromise between their passion for science and their passion for each other, to somehow find happiness together?This moving story unfolds amidst the fury of revolution, where love comes in many forms, hard choices must be made, and a young woman goes beyond the limits of love, of politics, and of mathematics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Beyond The Limit - great book!
I found the book a very quick read because I just couldn't put it down.The author definitely has done her research as I am a M.Sc. (Mathematics) graduate.

truly compelling!
This is a true piece of art, a compelling love story wrapped into the trials and tribulations of humanity's pursuit of balance with being true to oneself and to those you love.This true story is beautifully told of the tribulations faced by a woman in pursuit of mathematics in a world unaccustomed or accepting of women.I couldn't put it down!

Beyond The Limit
We enjoyed this book immensely and recommend it to all readers who enjoy history.The book captures the struggles of women who persued higher education in a time of world governmental and social change.The romantic twists and turns of the characters are sure to keep the reader's interest from cover to cover.

Brilliant, inspirational, important
I highly recommend this book!From the very first page, the story engages the reader and the writing dazzles.This true story is about the trials and struggles of a brilliant, Russian female mathematician, Sofya Kovalevskaya, in the late 1800s.This was not a popular time to be a woman in Russia, and certainly not popular to be a smart woman -- especially if you wanted to study mathematics!However, the development of mathematics and science in Europe at this time was on fire (as was the politics), and Sofya was right in the thick of it all.

This work of historical fiction is well researched, with information gathered from many sources (including translations of personal letters), and masterfully retold.It's romantic, exciting and fascinating.A true gift to be able to walk these years in Sofya's shoes.

If you've ever struggled against societial prejudices, or struggled to succeed in a field of work not intended for your race, sex or color, you'll find this book an inspiration.

I anxiously await the sequel!

Fascinating.
It is difficult to realize the nature of the contemporary world without the perspective of history. This book tells a story of what a talented woman had to go through to gain an education in 19th century Europe. Sofya Kovalevskaya engaged in a sham marriage to gain the education unavailable in Russia, and very difficult to obtain in Europe. The turbulent world, the vortex of politics, nihilism, the Paris Commune, all intervened to make her quest even more daunting. Her success as a mathematician was impressive, and one must remember the tremendous handicaps she labored under to fully appreciate them. Contrast her experience with what she might have obtained in the 20th century, and one feels a joy that in some ways we have stepped a bit forward.

Joan Spicci manages to tell the tale with skill, and she has the big advantage of telling an interesting love story as well, for the marriage, became a marriage in fact as well as name. No fairy tale romance, but a relationship filled with conflicting goals, and the constant intrusion of the world. It is a story of men and women trying to juggle science, politics and complex personal relationships. This book is well worth reading, but I suspect easily missed, so don't let it slip by. ... Read more

Book Description
Sonya Kovalevskaya was a distinguished mathematician andconsidered by her contemporaries to be among the best of hergeneration. Her work, ideas, and approach to mathematics arestill relevant today, while her accomplishments continue toinspire women mathematicians.

The academic year 1985--86 marked the 15th anniversary of theAssociation for Women in Mathematics and the 25th anniversary ofthe Mary Ingraham Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College,Harvard University--both organizations that have enhancedwomen's role in mathematics. These two occasions provided aframework for a Kovalevskaya celebration, which included asymposium at Radcliffe College, and special sessions at the AMSmeeting in Amherst, Massachusetts, both in October 1985. Thepapers in this collection were drawn from those two events.

The first group of papers contains background material aboutKovalevskaya's life and work, including a discussion of how shehas been perceived by the mathematical community over the lastcentury. The rest of the papers contain new mathematics andcover a wide variety of subjects in geometry, analysis,dynamical systems, and applied mathematics. They all involve, inone form or another, Kovalevskaya's main areas ofinterest---differential equations and mathematical questionsarising from physical phenomena. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great book
This is a great book, and a wonderful contribution to both the history of mathematics, and to the explanation of the very mathematics that Kovalevskaya has worked on. We need more such books. I wish Springer would re-issue it in paperback.

I (the author) think it's OK.
It would hardly be fair for me to review my own book.You need an impartial opinion, such as that of my mother, who unfortunately didn't live to see her son become an author; I think she would have liked it, however.As for me, I'm happy to find it's still available after 13 years! ... Read more