Novelist Honore de Balzac was the first to use the phrase Paris savant to refer to the dynamic Parisian scientific and intellectual community of the late 18th century. This book discusses how the Parisian scientific community came into its important place in the French Enlightenment, focusing on the Academy of Sciences.
The biography explores the intricate relationship between Cauchy, his era, and his scientific contributions. Professor Belhoste presents a vivid portrait of Cauchy as a brilliant and versatile mathematician who significantly advanced the field nearly two centuries ago. The narrative provides a detailed and personalized account of Cauchy's journey, highlighting his struggles, inspirations, successes, failures, and the conflicts he faced, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of his impact on mathematics and science.