Ernst Zermelo (1871-1953) is regarded as the founder of axiomatic set theory and best-known for the first formulation of the axiom of choice. However, his papers include also pioneering work in applied mathematics and mathematical physics.

This edition of his collected papers will consist of two volumes. Besides providing a biography, the present Volume I covers set theory, the foundations of mathematics, and pure mathematics and is supplemented by selected items from his Nachlass and part of his translations of Homer's Odyssey. Volume II will contain his work in the calculus of variations, applied mathematics, and physics.

The papers are each presented in their original language together with an English translation, the versions facing each other on opposite pages. Each paper or coherent group of papers is preceded by an introductory note provided by an acknowledged expert in the field which comments on the historical background, motivations, accomplishments, and influence.

H.-D. EBBINGHAUS: has worked in mathematical logic, mainly in model theory, during the last years also in the history of set theory. Author of the biography of Zermelo, "Zermelo - An Approach to His Life And Work", http://www.springer.com/978-3-540-49551-2.

CRAIG FRASER: works on the history of analysis and mathematical mechanics, covering the period from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. A focus of his research has been the calculus of variations, Zermelo's first area of mathematical research. He is a corresponding member of the International Academy of the History of Science.

AKIHIRO KANAMORI: works in set theory, the history of set theory, and has written several papers on Zermelo and set theory.