by Daniel Kehlmann
Kehlmann is a newcomer in Germany: one of the promising new generation of writers. He is intelligent, funny and writes sharp dialogues. In order to fictionalise the lives of Humboldt and Gauss, two giants of German science, one has to be intelligent or critics would destroy him. Both lived at the same time and they both surveyed the earth. But here ends any commonality between the two scientists. One is a world’s traveller, the other hates to leave his home town. One lives in asceticism, the other is obsessed with women. One surveys South America the other Germany.
I am personally a big admirer of Humboldt but in the book I found Gauss more likeable despite of his rudeness with everybody. It is so funny how he is trying to hide his superiority since it earned him so many difficulties when he was young. More that once he says to himself: ‘they will discover it by themselves, it is just a matter of time. Do not insult him by giving him the solution.’
The best of the book is that you get a lot of historical background information but the fiction blends perfectly in.
I am personally a big admirer of Humboldt but in the book I found Gauss more likeable despite of his rudeness with everybody. It is so funny how he is trying to hide his superiority since it earned him so many difficulties when he was young. More that once he says to himself: ‘they will discover it by themselves, it is just a matter of time. Do not insult him by giving him the solution.’
The best of the book is that you get a lot of historical background information but the fiction blends perfectly in.
Facts:
English title: Measuring the world
Original title: Die Vermessung der Welt
Published: 2005
