This biography examines the life and achievements of Ernst Zermelo
(1871-1953), best-known for the statement of the axiom of choice and his
axiomatization of set theory. Personal and scientific aspects are, for
the most part, kept separate in order to enable the reader to follow the
one or the other of these threads. The description of his personality
owes much to conversations with his late wife Gertrud. The presentation
of his work explores motivations, aims, acceptance, and influence.
Selected proofs and information gleaned from unpublished notes and
letters add to the analysis. All facts presented are documented by
appropriate sources. The biography contains more than 40 photos and
facsimiles, most of them provided by Gertrud Zermelo and published here
for the first time.