| This French novel is primarily about jealousy and how it poisons relationships between women. However, one recurring minor character is a Fields medalist working in topology. Like many mathematicians in fiction, he is portrayed as being cold, anti-social, and a bad parent. (Though, to be fair, the cardiologists who are the main characters in the book are also portrayed negatively.)
FWIW The mathematician has an unusual way of doing research:
| (quoted from Strike Your Heart)
After dinner, as Stanislas was leaving the room, his wife called out, "Don't work too late, darling." When she saw that Diane was giving her a puzzled look, Olivia added, "Did you see him lying on his bed staring at the ceiling with his eyes wide open? That's how he does his research in topology. He gets up for four minutes a day to write down his thoughts on a piece of paper. Impressive, isn't it?"
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Thanks to Lauren Tubbs and Andrew Przeworski for letting me know about this book. |
