The primary focus for this article involves aspects of professional mathematical writing and examines the possibility of a form of literary criticism in relation to it. By means of examples from contemporary style guides for academic articles in mathematics (AMS, MAA), as well as the writing of mathematicians (Hamilton, Dedekind) from earlier…

The author has framed this brief appreciation of David Flower in terms of influence; specifically, his influence as a teacher, both in person and through his writing (most of all his attempted rewriting of much of the history of Greek mathematics). The author will also make some second-order remarks about the influence of teachers.

Suggests that it is possible to apply the principles of literary criticism to the mathematical text. Discussed are the areas of rhetoric, metaphor, and metonymy. (PK)