Re: [math-fun] Filling a much-needed gap

Dan Asimov writes:

Which reminds me of an oft-repeated bit of math folklore:

A review of a certain math paper read: "This paper fills a much-needed gap in the literature."

I wonder if this is apocryphal. Or is it pocryphal?

The pocryphality of this review is discussed at length in one of my favorite sites: Quote Investigator. Part 2 is here: http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/03/fills-a-much-needed-gap-pt2/ and it includes a link to Part 1. Executive summary - it's appeared as unintentional humour, and nearly made it into print intentionally. Though attributed frequently to Moses Hadas, the Quote Investigator was unable to locate it in his work. It did not quite appear in Mathematical Reviews. -- Jim Gillogly ​​