Life and Scientific Work of Peter Guthrie Tait

Abstract

TWO large quarto volumes of Prof. Tait's collected papers were published some time ago by the Cambridge University Press, and these have now been supplemented by an exceedingly interesting account of Tait's life and work, from the pen of his pupil and friend, Dr. C. G. Knott. Every Edinburgh student must recognise the fidelity of the picture which Dr. Knott has drawn, and feel that his book is in all respects a worthy memorial of the great Edinburgh professor. The book will appeal very directly to many of the readers of NATURE, who remember the searching and trenchant reviews of books on physical mathematics, and the articles on such subjects as the physics of golf, and on questions connected with physical mathematics, which appeared in these columns from time to time, and were signed with the initials “P. G. T.” Many of these less formal papers were of much scientific interest, which was not lessened by the eminently human personality of the writer, which appeared in every sentence, and the humour, a little grim at times, with which he illustrated or drove home his conclusions.

Life and Scientific Work of Peter Guthrie Tait.

By Cargill Gilston Knott. Pp. x + 379. (Cambridge: University Press, 1911.) Price 10s. 6d. net.