This is my favorite book on the subject - every chapter has a backround story then a proof of a "great theorom" with the idea that you have to understand the math to get the history - in addition to be so well written it gets the math just right I think for just a layperson or someone with more of a backround -
www.amazon.com/gp/product/014014739X/002-2754988-0717616?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
If you're at all interested and need someting to read it this is great book.
Great thanks! I'll check it out. It's a good price, too.
If you get the book, just so you get hooked in, skip ahead and start with chapter 6 about Caradano and solution of the cubic - good story about that one!