Alexander Masters

Reading, writing and arithmetic – the glorious interrelation of maths and literature

Sarah Hart discusses the Oulipo group, Jorge Luis Borges and Eleanor Catton among other writers who have explored the use of mathematics in their works

‘Idiom’, the installation in Prague created by the Slovak artist Matej Krén – consisting of a mere 8,000 books [Alamy]
  • Comments

  • Once Upon a Prime: The Wondrous Connections Between Mathematics and Literature

    Sarah Hart

    Mudlark, pp. 304, £16

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

Julie Burchill

Taylor Swift is a rotter

Julie Burchill
Taylor Swift has released another album spilling the beans on her private life. ‘I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past two years and wanted to share it all with you,’ she says. Her fans are lapping up The Tortured Poets Department, but her critics say dishing the dirt on her ex boyfriends isn’t

Because you read about georges perec

Also by Alexander Masters

Latest

Comments

A blooming good offer

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting the next 3 months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in