This book presents, in his own words, the life of Hugo Steinhaus (1887-1972), noted Polish mathematician of Jewish background, educator, and mathematical popularizer. A student of Hilbert, a pioneer of the foundations of probability and game theory, and a contributor to the development of functional analysis, he was one of those instrumental to the extraordinary flowering of Polish mathematics before and after World War I. In particular, it was he who "discovered" the great Stefan Banach. Exhibiting his great integrity and wit, Steinhaus's personal story of the turbulent times he survived - including two world wars and life postwar under the Soviet heel - cannot but be of consuming interest. His recounting of the fearful years spent evading Nazi terror is especially moving. The steadfast honesty and natural dignity he maintained while pursuing a life of demanding scientific and intellectual enquiry in the face of encroaching calamity and chaos show him to be truly a mathematician for all seasons.

Foreword to the first Polish edition.- Introduction to the English edition.- Part I: Jaslo.- The Gymnasium.- In the capital Lwów.- Göttingen.- The return home.- The life of a private scholar.- Part II: In the university town Lwów.- The first occupation.- Interlude: Flashes of memory.- The second occupation.- Homeless wandering.- Osiczyna.- Interlude: Flashes of memory.- Stróze.- Diary entries.- A flash of memory.- Diary entries (continued).- Between Kraków and Wroclaw.- Wroclaw.- A taste of America.- Wroclaw again.- America again.- Home again.- Index of names.