The book consists of originally conceived and fascinatingly compiled biographies of the great mathematicians of the past - from the times of Ancient Greece to the middle of the last century. The author seeks to draw a living portrait of each of his heroes, to show him as a person living among people and by his activities contributing to the progress of civilization. The presentation, as a rule, is linked to the relationship between people, scientists, rulers, countries, comparisons of the activities of scientists are often made, original comparison of facts, curious parallels...