Author: William Dunham
The Calculus Gallery: Masterpieces from Newton to Lebesgue by William Dunham is a beautifully written exploration of the historical and mathematical development of calculus through the works of its greatest contributors. Rather than being a traditional textbook, it is a blend of mathematical exposition and intellectual history, aimed at readers who appreciate both rigorous mathematics and the story of its evolution. Dunham presents twelve “masterpieces” — key mathematical achievements by figures such as Newton, Leibniz, Euler, Cauchy, Riemann, and Lebesgue — and explains their ideas with clarity and insight. The book reveals how each mathematician built upon the ideas of predecessors, gradually transforming calculus from a computational tool into a deeply rigorous branch of analysis. Dunham writes with a scholar’s precision and a storyteller’s flair, making even complex mathematical arguments accessible to motivated readers. Each chapter provides both the historical context and the mathematical substance of the original works, often reproducing excerpts in modern notation for clarity. The text celebrates the creativity and brilliance of the mathematicians who shaped calculus, showing their human struggles and triumphs alongside their intellectual breakthroughs. It serves as an engaging resource for students, teachers, and anyone interested in the development of mathematical thought. The book is widely praised for its balance of mathematical depth and readability. The Calculus Gallery is published by Princeton University Press.