From Letter to Theorem

In 1852, Augustus De Morgan’s question about coloring maps with a minimal palette sparked a challenge that endured for over a century. The seemingly simple puzzle attracted everyone from Lewis Carroll to traffic cops, each adding new layers to the quest.

A Colorful Journey

Robin Wilson vividly recounts how mathematicians painted maps on doughnuts, horseshoes and soccer balls, and how over 1,200 hours of computer time finally confirmed that four colors always suffice.

• Historical vignettes: from Victorian scholars to modern researchers
• Mathematical insight: clear explanations of complex proofs
• Engaging anecdotes: unexpected characters and colorful experiments

Accessible yet thorough, Wilson brings clarity to a landmark problem and showcases the blend of human creativity and computational power behind one of mathematics’ most intriguing achievements.

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