Im Zentrum des Romans steht Friedrich Curth, ein junger Mann, der in den turbulenten Jahren zwischen 1850 und 1870 in Frankfurt lebt. Seine Erlebnisse sind geprägt von geschäftlichen Unternehmungen und familiären Herausforderungen, die ihn durch die gesellschaftlichen und politischen Umbrüche dieser Zeit führen. Jacob Klein zeichnet ein lebendiges Bild des historischen Frankfurt und beleuchtet die persönlichen sowie sozialen Konflikte, die das Leben von Curth bestimmen.
Important study focuses on the revival and assimilation of ancient Greek mathematics in the 13th–16th centuries, via Arabic science, and the 16th-century development of symbolic algebra. This brought about the crucial change in the concept of number that made possible modern science — in which the symbolic "form" of a mathematical statement is completely inseparable from its "content" of physical meaning. Includes a translation of Vieta's Introduction to the Analytical Art. 1968 edition. Bibliography.
Exploring the Meno as a theatrical presentation, this interpretation encourages modern readers to engage with the dialogue actively, much like Socrates's original audience. Klein provides a detailed line-by-line commentary, bringing the characters and discussions to life while meticulously examining pivotal moments in the argument. This fresh perspective invites readers to question their own thinking, enhancing their understanding of the philosophical themes presented in the text.