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February 1535. During a mathematical challenge, Niccolò Tartaglia discovers a formula capable of solving different types of cubic equations. His notoriety grows, while the best scholars start seeing the enormous scope of his achievement. But the future is not rosy. The greatest scientific fight of the whole Renaissance is about to take place.
Tartaglia was a nickname the self-taught mathematician was given after the speech defect he got as a child, from sabre injuries during the French invasion of Brescia, in 1512. But his rival Gerolamo Cardano was not a less interesting figure: he was a scholar among the most brilliant and controversial of the 1500s, a physician, mathematician, philosopher, astrologer, sorcerer, thaumaturge, dream reader, and gambler.
In the Italy of the XVIth century, mathematicians used to challenge each other outdoors, in front of people, with problems expressed in rhyme: the outcome would dramatically influence their personal and scientific fortune. And this is how Tartaglia and Cardano contended the resolutive formula for 3rd and 4th grade equations (pupils study that in school), becoming the vivid protagonists of the fiercest polemics in the history of mathematics.
Italian Renaissance, from Brescia to Venice, from Bologna and Milan; war invasions, gambling, challenge cartels (cartelli di disfida), astuteness and candour, oaths and treason, family tragedies: these ingredients make Toscano’s narration the first thorough reconstruction of an extraordinary story, finely researched from the historical point of view, with great attention at both the scientific and human details.

Excerpt from Tartaglia’s resolutive formula, gave as a poem

The third of these calculations of ours
Is solved with the second if you take good care,
As in their nature they are almost matched.
These things I found, and not with sluggish steps,
In the year one thousand five hundred, four and thirty.
With foundations strong and sturdy
In the city girdled by the sea.

With a background in theoretical physics, Fabio Toscano specialized in fundament and philosophy of physics and in science communication. He is a science writer for newspapers, web and TV. He wrote other successful history of science works, like The Genius and the gentleman (2004), shortlisted for Giovanni Maria Pace Award for popular science books, Galileo's Heir (2008), The physicist who lived twice (2008), winner of the 2009 Giovanni Maria Pace Award.