Once Upon A Prime: The Wondrous (Sarah Hart, Mudlark, £16.99)

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As someone who had little in the way of mathematical prowess at school, I initially opened Prime with some trepidation. The book focuses on the often hidden mathematical complexity of famous literary works, such Alice in Wonderland, Borges’ Library of Babel and Moby Dick – all analysed here in a way that vastly increased my enjoyment of them. I was even inspired to create my own mathematical ‘Easter egg’ in one of my recent articles.*

It’s easy to see how an English teacher could make some use of the information presented, if only to provide another avenue for students to explore beneath the surface when reading.

Yet while Hart is an engaging writer with a wry sense of humour, her mathematical explanations aren’t always crystal clear to the layperson. Nevertheless, the book offers an enjoyable glimpse behind the curtain of some timeless literature.

*The answer is provided in this article.

First published in Teach Secondary magazine.

My thanks to David Longman, who first drew my attention to this book. David has published his own book reviews here.