Euclid and His Modern Rivals

by Lewis Carroll

Euclid and His Modern Rivals is a deeply convincing testament to the Greek mathematician's teachings of elementary geometry. Published in 1879, it is humorously constructed and written by Charles Dodgson (better known outside the mathematical world as Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland) in the form of an intentionally unscientific dramatic comedy. Dodgson, mathematical lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford, sets out to provide evidentiary support for the claim that The Manual of Euclid is essentially the defining and exclusive textbook to be used for teaching elementary geometry. Euclid's sequence and numbering of propositions and his treatment of parallels, states Dodgson, make convincing arguments that the Greek scholar's text stands alone in the field of mathematics. The author pointedly recognises the abundance of significant work in the field, but maintains that none of the subsequent manuals can effectively serve as substitutes to Euclid's early teachings of elementary geometry.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Education, Science

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

The Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by the pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican clergyman and photographer.

His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all considered to be within the genre of literary nonsense.

Oxford scholar, Church of England Deacon, University Lecturer in Mathematics and Logic, academic author of learned theses, gifted pioneer of portrait photography, colourful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.

He also has works published under his real name.

Reviews

[Valerie]

I am a huge math nerd, and even I thought this book was boring beyond belief. I plan on subjecting my Geometry class to parts of it.

[Becky Carlan]

Carroll, the math teacher of great imagination has written a play containing early Greek kings petitioned by “modern” mathematicians that their treatment of Geometry is more complete than Euclid. An imaginative apologetic for Euclid, made less enjoyable by the fact I don’t know enough about Euclid and even less about Geometry. Something good to return to later!

[Sarah]

Witty and cutting, a great read if you want to do a deeper dive into Carroll, or if you're interested in education theory or the history of mathematics instruction. Not a light book, and the witty amusing sections are equal to the math-heavy bits.

[Jake Cooper]

It's a cute dialogue championing Euclid's Elements -- and specifically his parallel postulate -- over then-contemporary alternative treatments. Anachronistic and dryly rigorous for 21st century pleasure reading.