James Mills Peirce (1834Ð1906) was a respectedÑand secretly gayÑmathematics professor at Harvard University. This imaginative biography recreates college life at Harvard in the late nineteenth century and gives a realistic picture of the life of an intellectual coming to terms with his homosexuality. The intimate glimpses into his sex life add a charming touch to the historically accurate picture of the development of graduate education in New England. Those with an interest in the history of mathematics and/or the early history of the gay movement in Europe will especially appreciate this thoughtful and thoroughly researched presentation by a scholar of both subjects.