The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Elements

Abstract

THE preface to the first edition of Sir Thomas Heath's translation of Euclid's “Elements” begins with the following quotation from De Morgan: “There never has been, and until we see it we never shall believe that there can be, a system of geometry worthy of the name, which has any material departures (we do not speak of corrections or extensions or developments) from the plan laid down by Euclid.” In 1908, when that edition appeared, the movement in favour of a textbook for schools that discarded Ethclid's order and proofs was in full vigour, and, in reference to that movement, Sir Thomas Heath contented himself with saying: “It is, perhaps, too early yet to prophesy what will be the ultimate outcome of the new order of things; but it would at least seem possible that history will repeat itself and that, when chaos has again come into geometrical teaching, there will be a return to Euclid more or less complete for the purpose of standardising it once more.” The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Elements. Translated from the Text of Heiberg, with Introduction and Commentary, by Sir Thomas L. Heath. Second edition, revised with additions. Vol. 1: Introduction and Books I., II. Pp. xii + 432. Vol. 2: Books III.-IX. Pp. vi + 436. Vol. 3: Books X.-XIII. and Appendix. Pp. vi + 546. (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1926.) 70s. net.