Once Upon a Prime

‘A hugely entertaining and well-written tour of the links between math and literature. Hart’s lightness of touch and passion for both subjects make this book a delight to read. Bookworms and number-lovers alike will discover much they didn’t know about the creative interplay between stories, structure and sums.’ – Alex Bellos, bestselling author of Alex’s Adventures in Numberland

‘Once Upon a Prime is an absolute joy to read! Sarah Hart has created something wonderful: from nursery rhymes to Moby-Dick, she uncovers hidden links that I never could have imagined, but which I will never forget.’ – Steven Levitt, bestselling author of Freakonomics

“This lively and personal book uncovers quirky nuggets of mathematics in a wide variety of literature, with new perspectives on books I’ve already read and intriguing mathematical reasons to seek out some books I haven’t. Professor Hart is a welcome and fresh new voice in bringing math to a wider audience.” – Eugenia Cheng, author of How to Bake Pi

Sarah Hart is Professor of Mathematics at Birkbeck College (University of London). Educated at Oxford and Manchester, Dr. Hart is the 33rd person and first ever woman to hold the Gresham Professorship of Geometry, the oldest mathematics chair in the UK.