Letters I. The private correspondence. Edited and with annotations by Eduard Zwierlein, translated by Ulrich Kunzmann (Q2803843)

If you want to get to know Blaise Pascal, read his private correspondence. This is the first of three volumes that contain Pascal's letters translated into German. Pascal writes well. Letters I starts with 9 letters to relatives. The death of his father leads Pascal in a letter to his sister to the consideration that relief from suffering is to be found in the Divine providence, in the conviction that it is all part of God's plan. Then follows the remarkable letter to Queen Kristina of Sweden that accompanied a copy of Pascal's calculator. The third part of the book contains 9 letters to Mademoiselle de Roannez. Their content is religious. Pascal believed in miracles. For example, his own niece was cured from a very unpleasant disease by the touch of a thorn from the crown of Christ. The fourth part of the book contains a letter to Huygens and one to Fermat. In the letter to Fermat, Pascal compares a mathematician to a craftsman. Obviously, Pascal prefers the ``esprit de finesse'' and for him theology is what really matters. The book is thoroughly annotated, which is most useful. The two next volumes, Letters II and III, will contain the translated and annotated scientific correspondence.