This isn't a novel, but the story behind it reads like one. Évariste Galois was a political firebrand and a mathematical prodigy in 1830s France. His work was rejected by the academic elite, who just didn't get it. The night before a fatal duel over a love affair (or politics—no one really knows), Galois feverishly wrote down all his groundbreaking ideas. He filled the margins with notes like 'I have no time,' knowing he might not live to see the morning. This book collects those final, desperate writings.

Why You Should Read It

Look, you don't need to understand the math. I certainly don't get all of it! The power is in holding this artifact of 'what if?' Galois solved problems that stumped mathematicians for decades, and he did it as a teenager. Reading his notes, you feel his urgency and his frustration. It's a raw, unpolished look at how genius actually works—not as a neat theory, but as a messy, passionate scramble against time. It makes you wonder how much more he could have done.

Final Verdict

This is for the curious reader who loves a great human story behind big ideas. If you're fascinated by history's brilliant misfits, tragic figures, or moments where a single life changes everything, you'll be gripped. It's also, of course, essential for anyone interested in the history of science. Just be prepared—it's less of a smooth read and more of an intimate, haunting visit with a ghost of genius.