O Homem que Calculava: A Masterpiece of Malba Tahan
O Homem que Calculava: A Mathematical Journey
O Homem que Calculava is a classic infant-juvenile romance written by Brazilian author Malba Tahan (the heteronym of professor Júlio César de Mello e Souza). The book recounts the adventures and mathematical exploits of the Persian calculator, Beremiz Samir, alongside his companion Hank Tade Maia in 13th-century Baghdad. First published in 1939, it has reached its 75th edition.
Set against the backdrop of the medieval Islamic world, the narrative follows the protagonist as he solves diverse and extraordinary problems, overcoming brain-teasing mathematical curiosities. It also includes picturesque stories and legends, such as the origin of the legend of chess and the history of the mathematical philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria. Without being a strictly didactic book, it carries a strong moral tone. A sales success in Brazil, it has been read by generations of readers and translated into Spanish, English, and Italian.
Main Characters
- Hank Tade Maia: The narrator of the story and Beremiz's friend.
- Beremiz Samir: The protagonist and the man who calculated.
- Ibrahim Maluf the Barad: Grand vizier and Beremiz's protector.
- Telassim: The 17-year-old daughter of the poet Iezid Abul Hamid.
- Al-Motacém: The Caliph Al-Musta'sim Billah (1242–1258 AD) of Baghdad.
Journey to Baghdad and Recognition
Traveling from the tangle of Samarra to Baghdad, Hank Tade Maia, the narrator, discovers Beremiz Samir, a singular person revealed to be a fabulous Persian calculator. They decide to travel together to Baghdad, and along the way, Beremiz showcases his extraordinary calculation skills. In Baghdad, Beremiz quickly becomes famous, required by both common people and nobility, which awakens the sympathy of some and the envy of others.
He takes a job as secretary to Grand Vizier Ibrahim Maluf, while Tade Maia becomes a minister. Beremiz also accepts the task of teaching mathematics to Telassim, the daughter of the poet Iezid, with whom he shares his knowledge and eventually falls in love—his future wife. Word even reaches the caliph, who grants Beremiz an audience. The caliph is delighted with the calculator's tricks and praises him.
The Final Test and Reward
To definitively test Beremiz's capacity, the caliph prepares an audience where the calculator is questioned by seven wise men. Having brilliantly answered all the tests, Beremiz asks for the hand in marriage of Telassim, with whom he has fallen in love, as his reward. Beremiz and Telassim marry, and together with their friend Tade Maia, they eventually move to Constantinople in Turkey.
Cultural and Historical Significance
Professor Júlio César de Mello e Souza, under the pseudonym Malba Tahan, authored more than 15 books on the customs and legends of the Arab people, among them his most famous: O Homem que Calculava. In this book, Beremiz Samir is initially introduced as a cool, simple, and humble calculator without many prospects until the narrator meets him on a road. This convinces him to journey to Baghdad, where the mathematician performs various feats and is recognized by kings, poets, and sheikhs.
The book includes a glossary of various Arabic appendices, explanations of the resolution of each math problem solved by Beremiz, phrases by philosophers and scientists praising mathematics, famous calculus information, and an article on Arab mathematics. It is noteworthy for its cultural and historical significance, proving that mathematics has much more to do with everyday life than the general public imagines.