MathFiction: Confusions of Young Torless (Robert Musil)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Confusions of Young Torless (1906)

Robert Musil
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Contributed by John L. Bell, University of Western Ontario

A semi-autobiographical novel set in a military academy in a desolate corner of the Austro-Hungarian empire, is the story of the intellectual awakening of an intelligent adolescent, and contains several passages on mathematics (and philosophy), notably a remarkably penetrating discussion of the meaning of imaginary numbers.

Contributed by Austin

Young Törless was adapted into a movie, directed by Volker Schlöndorff (who also adapted The Tin Drum).

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Works Similar to Confusions of Young Torless

According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:

Mrs. Einstein by Anna McGrail
Continuums by Robert Carr
The Ore Miner's Wife by Karl Iagnemma
Touch the Water, Touch the Wind by Amos Oz
The Blue Door by Tanya Barfield
The Lost Books of the Odyssey by Zachary Mason
Sophie's Diary by Dora Musielak
Journey into a Dark Heart by Peter Hoeg
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro
The Death of Archimedes by Karel Capek

Ratings for Confusions of Young Torless:

Ratings

Have you seen/read this work of mathematical fiction? Then click here to enter your own votes on its mathematical content and literary quality or send me comments to post on this Webpage.

Mathematical Content:
2.5/5 (2 votes)

Literary Quality:
5/5 (2 votes)

Categories:

Genre	Historical Fiction,
Motif
Topic	Algebra/Arithmetic/Number Theory,
Medium	Novels,

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(Maintained by Alex Kasman, College of Charleston)