The Quest for Alexandre Grothendieck
1987-1993
Although his productive research ended in 1975, many mathematicians maintain that Alexandre Grothendieck is the
greatest living mathematician.
He has well-merited reputations for political engagement and extreme eccentricity. In 1975, at the end of a 15 year period of astonishing mathematical creativity , he withdrew from active scientific life .
Eventually he dropped out of all professional activities in Paris and took up an ordinary post in Montpellier as a teacher of elementary subjects such as linear algebra and calculus. Since then his energy has been invested in radical political causes, anti-militarism and organic farming.
In May of 1988 the Swedish Academy awarded him the Crafoord Prize. This prize, a belated attempt to repair the neglect of Alfred Nobel in not creating a prize in mathematics, came with an cash award of about $160,000.
Grothendieck stunned the
world by rejecting it.
In his letter to Le Monde he speaks of dishonesty in science and a political establishment that he
refused to endorse by accepting the prize. He also hints at mystical visions forecasting an inexorable Holocaust, to be
followed by a Utopian Golden Age. I was in France at that time. After reading his letter in Le Monde I set out to find him. The adventurous search took 3
months. We took a liking to each other. During our interview and in our correspondence over the next few years, he shared
ideas on the arms race, the purposes of science,
the reasons for his rejection of the prize, plagiarism and dishonesty in
mathematics and the scientific community in general.From him, and from local friends, I learned details of his biography
that were not been known.
The story of my search , our conversations and their sequel, was serialized in my newsletter Ferment in 1989 .
In 1992 he once more went into hiding , severing contacts with friends, family and colleagues. The author organized a committee to search for him that led to his discovery, in good health and busily at work, in September, 1996. This committee has since become the Grothendieck Biography Project. All of this is recorded in a 300 page account in 3 parts..
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The price of "The Quest for Alexandre Grothendieck !" is $23.
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