Pulling it off requires both historical expertise and an understanding of scientific work that was already modern in character—with the added difficulty that many mathematical notations and perspectives have changed considerably since the first half of the 19th century.
Published in 1985, Bruno Belhoste's biography of Cauchy remains the standard reference today, both in France and abroad, following its English translation in 1991 and reissue in 2011. Belhoste portrays every facet of this exceptional man, from his major discoveries to his occasional errors, while also covering his commitments and his life in troubled times.
Augustin-Louis Cauchy, A Biography.
Bruno Belhoste, Springer-Verlag, 1991.
*Cauchy, Un mathématicien légitimiste au 19th siècle*.
Bruno Belhoste, Belin, 1985.
