Sarah Hart: Once Upon a Prime

Part of Leeds Lit Fest 2026. See the full programme at https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/

In association with City of Maths Leeds 26-27 and Leeds Mathematics School.

Mathematics is called the language of the universe because it underpins the structures and patterns of nature. But human beings are part of the universe too. We love pattern and structure, so they inevitably emerge in our creative arts. In 'Once Upon a Prime', Professor Sarah Hart shows us the myriad connections between maths and literature, and how understanding those connections can enhance our enjoyment of both.

Sarah reveals the hidden patterns behind everything from poetry to novels, and uncovers mathematical imagery in fiction, from simple fairytales to classics like 'Moby Dick'.

Sarah Hart is a mathematician and author. She is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Birkbeck College (University of London), and Fellow of Gresham College, London, where she recently served a four-year term as Professor of Geometry, the first woman to hold this chair since its creation in 1597. Sarah is particularly interested in the cultural, historical and creative impact of mathematics, and the links between mathematics and the arts. Her first book, 'Once Upon a Prime: The Wondrous Connections Between Mathematics and Literature', was a New York Times Book review Editor's Choice, and won the Mathematical Association of America's Euler Book Prize.