The American version (under the title "The Oxford Brotherhood") was not published until long after I first heard about this novel's existence. And, unfortunately, it arrived during a very busy semester when I have little time to spare. For both of those reasons, it has taken me a very long time to write this review. Fortunately, I am happy to report that it really is an excellent work of mathematical fiction.

From the descriptions I saw before reading it, it had not even been clear to me that it was going to be mathematical. Of course, Seldom and G (the author's doppelgänger) are both mathematicians, as was Dodgson. However, I thought that might be the extent of it. As it turns out, there is quite a bit more. Kristin Hill, who discovers the new evidence and then is the victim of a hit-and-run accident, is also a mathematician. G's initial role in the investigation is to use mathematical methods to verify that the handwriting is Dodgson's. But, it is not only these ways in which math is tied to the plot that this work of fiction is mathematical.

The whole environment in which the events unfold is mathematical and is written with mathematical language. Since many of the characters are mathematicians, activities related to math are part of their lives and are casually mentioned. G stops by Seldom's office to discuss his thesis. The phrase modus ponens is used in conversation without clarification. And, mathematics is also part of the way they think and communicate. Even non-mathematical concepts are understood or communicated through mathematical metaphors. G attempts to apply mathematical reasoning to sorting out his feelings about the two young women he is attracted to, and describes an older woman's wrinkles as being like a "vector field".

To me, this all seems quite natural. This is not at all an unrealistic portrayal of how professional mathematicians think and feel -- though, of course, most of us are not dealing with the sort of historical drama and life threatening situations that are occurring here. Martinez knows math well enough to get the facts and the tone correctly. It is as if this is a rare book that was written in my native language, making it a pleasure to read for that reason alone. (Perhaps this would be a good place for a "shout out" to Alberto Manguel who translated the edition I read into English. Some of the credit should go to the excellent translation as well!) I am curious to know how others feel about all of this. Do other mathematicians agree with me that this book gets it right? Are readers who are not part of the academic culture of mathematics "turned off" by this aspect of the book that I found so comfortable?

Your opinion would be appreciated. If you read the book and would like to comment. Use the link below or write to me at kasmana@cofc.edu.