In her talk Sarah Hart will explore the many connections between mathematics and literature. She will reveal the hidden mathematical structures behind everything from poetry to novels, and reveal some of the beautiful mathematical imagery and symbolism in fiction, from simple fairy tales to classics such as Moby-Dick. Her goal is to show that not only are mathematics and literature inextricably linked, but that understanding these links can enhance our enjoyment of both.
Sarah is a mathematician and author. She is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Birkbeck College, University of London, and has recently served a four-year term as Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, the first woman to hold this chair since its creation in 1597. Sarah is particularly interested in the cultural, historical and creative impact of mathematics, and the links between mathematics and the arts. Her first book, Once Upon a Prime; the Wondrous Connections between Mathematics and Literature, was published in April 2023. It was a New York Times Review Editor’s choice; the Sunday Times called it a ‘glorious compendium of mathematical fact and left-field literary appreciation that deserves a large and varied readership’.
Members: Free, Online or Victoria Hall
Non-Members: £10, Online or Victoria Hall
Please book, for online link only, by 1pm on the day of the event