Military prison of Bonne-Nouvelle

André Weil was an influential French mathematician of the 20th century, known for his foundational work in number theory, algebraic geometry. The philosopher Simone Weil was his sister. It was here in this military prison in Bonne-Nouvelle that Weil completed the work that made his reputation. In a letter to his wife he wrote: "If it 's only in prison that I work so well, will I have to arrange to spend two or three months locked up every year?".

Weil was in Finland when World War II broke out; he had been traveling in Scandinavia since April 1939. Weil was mistakenly arrested in Finland at the outbreak of the Winter War on suspicion of spying. Weil returned to France via Sweden and the United Kingdom, and was detained at Le Havre in January 1940. He was charged with failure to report for duty, and was imprisoned in Le Havre and then Rouen, here in this prison where he completed the work that made his reputation.

Dromos