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A far too short life

"Cursed mathematician", "romantic genius", "the Rimbaud of mathematics", "the Mozart of algebra", "misunderstood mind"... These are not the expressions that are lacking to qualify the short life of Évariste Galois, a young mathematician who died at 20 in an obscure duel. The mystery surrounding certain passages of his life, as well as the depth of his ideas, add to the legend of an icon whose personality and scientific legacy we are far from having fully understood!

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Galois manuscript mystery solved | Tangente

Galois manuscript mystery solved | Tangente

A contributor to the les-mathematiques.net forum, known by the username anqian, recently solved a small mystery that successive editors of Galois's works had puzzled over in vain.

OLIVIER COURCELLESep 19, 2023
Évarhistoire: a forum about Galois's life | Tangente

Évarhistoire: a forum about Galois's life | Tangente

Far from it—there is still much to be said about Galois! New communication tools, online discussion forums, and the documents digitized and made available online each day are enabling the investigation into this fascinating figure to continue.

OLIVIER COURCELLESep 19, 2023
"I have no time"

"I have no time"

Évariste Galois's name remains the symbol of precocious mathematical genius—misunderstood and tormented. Is he not sometimes called "the accursed mathematician" or "the Rimbaud of mathematics"? Retracing his all-too-short life allows us to place the young man in the context of his time.

René GranmontMay 18, 2022
Galois: Republican mathematician and activist | Tangente

Galois: Republican mathematician and activist | Tangente

Évariste Galois threw himself wholeheartedly into the political struggles of his time. His activism, republican convictions and bold acts would cost him more than ten months of his short life in prison.

René GranmontMay 19, 2022
Galois: unpublished archives and treasure hunters | Tangente

Galois: unpublished archives and treasure hunters | Tangente

Alongside university and academic research, enthusiasts conduct genuine investigations into Galois's life

Martine BRILLEAUDMay 19, 2022
Galois: from historical figure to legend | Tangente

Galois: from historical figure to legend | Tangente

The merging of two images, one scientific and the other political, gave rise to the image of Évariste Galois as an ill-fated mathematician—the image we have of him today. Galois did not become "famous" until the very last years of the 19th century.

Caroline EhrhardtMay 19, 2022
Évariste Galois: Previously unpublished accounts | Tangente

Évariste Galois: Previously unpublished accounts | Tangente

Do you know what Sophie Germain thought of Évariste Galois? What became of his loyal friend Auguste Chevalier? And who was Galois's opponent in his duel?

JACQUES CASSABOISMay 19, 2022