Friendly views on Claude Chevalley

TL;DR

This paper explores the personal and professional life of mathematician Claude Chevalley through testimonies of friends, highlighting his later years, friendships, and the preservation of his writings.

Contribution

It offers a unique, friendship-centered perspective on Chevalley's life, contrasting with traditional academic portrayals, and emphasizes the importance of personal testimonies.

Findings

Personal testimonies reveal Chevalley's influence and character.

The preservation of Chevalley's writings highlights his lasting legacy.

Friendship played a key role in shaping the narrative of Chevalley's life.

Abstract

We propose to follow the itinerary of Claude Chevalley during the last twenty years of his life, through the words of Jacques Roubaud, Denis Guedj and Alexander Grothendieck. Our perspective is that of their testimonies filled with friendship. This point of view flow us away from the well-known picture of Claude Chevalley within the Bourbaki group during the previous period. We will conclude this journey by following the becoming of his numerous writings that great mathematicians and friends have striven to keep alive after his passing.