December 12th, 2024: The internationally acclaimed poet Lee Slonimsky’s poetry collection, Pythagoras in Love, has been published in India by Prabhat Prakashan, New Delhi. Originally released in 2007, the book features 45 poems across five chapters, exploring the life, philosophy, and legacy of the ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras.
Lee Slonimsky is a distinguished poet with a career spanning over a decade and ten poetry collections to his credit. His work has received national and international acclaim, including the Italian Law and Culture prize. Slonimsky also served as the executor for the Daniel Hoffman Archive at the US Library of Congress, preserving the legacy of the former US Poet Laureate (1973-1974) and his mentor. He shares literary ties with Polish Poet Laureate Antoni Slonimski as a second cousin and is married to award-winning novelist Carol Goodman, whose works often incorporate his poetry.
Pythagoras in Love blends poetry with themes of mathematics, nature, and human relationships while reflecting on Pythagoras’ philosophical contributions, including his influence on Plato, his advocacy for social reform, and his belief in metempsychosis (reincarnation of souls). The book also draws parallels between Pythagoras’ ideas and early Hindu spiritual traditions.
Recalling the inspiration behind the book, Slonimsky writes in his author’s note, “When I received my original inspiration in March 2002 in New York City to write poems about Pythagoras, I knew virtually nothing about him as a historical figure.” He describes his initial curiosity, sparked by a walk through Inwood Park, as a “fortunate accident” that led to two decades of poetic exploration of Pythagoras’ versatile legacy.
Priced at Rs 200 in India and $10 internationally, Pythagoras in Love offers readers a unique poetic interpretation of a historical thinker whose ideas continue to influence the modern world.