Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 40

[cahn]

I'm trying to use my other account at least occasionally so I posted about my Yuletide gifts there, including the salon-relevant 12k fic that features Fritz, Heinrich, Voltaire, Fredersdorf, Saint Germain, Caroline Daum (Fredersdorf's wife), and Groundhog Day tropes! (Don't need to know canon.)

Comments

Re: Math history (including Euler's "breathtaking dexterity")

[luzula]

Ah, okay! So I guess Fritz recognized math as an important part of science which one might want to patronize, but was bad at it himself.

I'm sure you could read the book if you wanted, given that you have taken several years of math, but it seems you are busy with other things. : P

Thanks for the book rec, it does sound interesting!

Re: Math history (including Euler's "breathtaking dexterity")

[mildred_of_midgard]

Yes, exactly. Want to know what Fritz did really appreciate, and why he thought Euler was boring? Sparkling conversation, witty repartee. It was something his society valued, and he felt pressured to live up to the expectation himself. Voltaire was briiillllliant at this. Euler...not so much.

I'm sure you could read the book if you wanted, given that you have taken several years of math,

I took the several years of math! What I retained is another question. But I was able to follow your summary!

but it seems you are busy with other things. :P

Yes. Yes, you could say that. :P But if I'm ever looking for a book on this subject, I'll check out your rec.