Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin Abbott Abbott. Summary of the book.

by

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin Abbott Abbott

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions is an 1884 novella written by Edwin Abbott Abbott. It tells the story of a two-dimensional world called Flatland inhabited by geometric figures, where a Square embarks on a journey of discovery. The book is an exploration of dimensions, social hierarchy, and religious belief, as well as a satire of Victorian society. It has been described as The best introduction to the higher mathematics of the 19th century.

Summary

Flatland is set in the fictional two-dimensional world of Flatland, where geometric shapes inhabit the land. The protagonist, A Square, is a member of the upper class of Flatland, and his worldview is limited by the laws of Flatland. He is visited by a three-dimensional being from the land of Spaceland, who shows him the wonders of the third dimension. A Square is then taken on a journey through higher dimensions and is ultimately presented with the concept of the infinite. This leads him to question the laws of Flatland and the rigid social hierarchy that exists there.

Throughout the book, Abbott uses satire to critique Victorian culture and to challenge the beliefs of his day. He also explores the concept of dimensions, introducing readers to the world of higher mathematics. He does this in an accessible and humorous way, using the different dimensions to illustrate mathematical concepts. He also uses the characters of Flatland to illustrate the injustice of having a rigid social hierarchy.

Interesting Facts

  • Flatland is one of the earliest works of science fiction and is credited with inspiring many later works of science fiction, including The Matrix.
  • The book was originally published anonymously and was only later attributed to its author, Edwin Abbott Abbott.
  • Flatland has been translated into many languages and is still widely read today.
  • The book has been adapted into a stage play, a comic book, and a movie.
  • It has been described as The best introduction to the higher mathematics of the 19th century.

FAQs

Q: What is Flatland about?

A: Flatland is a novella written by Edwin Abbott Abbott. It tells the story of a two-dimensional world called Flatland inhabited by geometric figures, where a Square embarks on a journey of discovery. The book is an exploration of dimensions, social hierarchy, and religious belief, as well as a satire of Victorian society.

Q: Who wrote Flatland?

A: Flatland was written by Edwin Abbott Abbott, who was an English schoolmaster, theologian, and writer. He is best known for his novella Flatland and his mathematical textbooks.

Q: When was Flatland published?

A: Flatland was first published in 1884 and has since been translated into many languages and is still widely read today.

Q: What are the main themes of Flatland?

A: The main themes of Flatland include dimensions, social hierarchy, and religious belief, as well as a satire of Victorian society. It also explores the concept of mathematics and higher dimensions.

Q: How has Flatland been adapted?

A: Flatland has been adapted into a stage play, a comic book, and a movie. It has also been used as an inspiration for many later works of science fiction.

Related books:

  1. An Introduction to Mathematics by Alfred North Whitehead. Summary of the book.
  2. 5 ESSENTIAL DIMENSIONS: How to balance your life for health, success and content by A.A. Alebraheem. Summary of the book.
  3. A Course of Pure Mathematics by G. H. Hardy. Summary of the book.
  4. Washington Square by Henry James. Summary of the book.
  5. Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton. Summary of the book.
  6. Isaac Watts; his life and writings, his homes and friends by Edwin Paxton Hood. Summary of the book.
  7. An Investigation of the Laws of Thought by George Boole. Summary of the book.
  8. The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid by John Casey and Euclid. Summary of the book.
  9. The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature by William James. Summary of the book.
  10. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. Summary of the book.
  11. Calculus Made Easy by Silvanus P. Thompson. Summary of the book.
  12. Into the Water by Rachel Hawkins (2017). Summary of the book.
  13. The Victorian Chaise-longue by Marghanita Laski. Summary of the book.
  14. Daddy Long-Legs: A Comedy in Four Acts by Jean Webster. Summary of the book.
  15. Handbook to Higher Consciousness by Ken Keyes Jr.. Summary of the book.
  16. The Antichrist by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. Summary of the book.
  17. Handicraft for boys by A. Frederick Collins. Summary of the book.
  18. A Glastonbury Romance by John Cowper Powys. Summary of the book.
  19. The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles. Summary of the book.
  20. Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein. Summary of the book.
  21. The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse. Summary of the book.
  22. The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life by Émile Durkheim. Summary of the book.
  23. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (2006). Summary of the book.
  24. Green Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest by WH Hudson. Summary of the book.
  25. Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup. Summary of the book.
  26. InstaMuse for the Romance Writer: Fairytale Edition by Heather C. Myers. Summary of the book.
  27. The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance by H. G. Wells. Summary of the book.
  28. One Hundred Proofs That the Earth Is Not a Globe by William Carpenter. Summary of the book.
  29. Holly: The Romance of a Southern Girl by Ralph Henry Barbour. Summary of the book.
  30. The Romance of Tristan and Iseult by Joseph Bédier. Summary of the book.
  31. Plan @ 1: 100 Think @ 1: Infinity: The Secret of Being Immortal by Sandeep Deshmukh. Summary of the book.
  32. A Quiet Belief in Angels by RJ Ellory. Summary of the book.
  33. Palmistry for All by Cheiro. Summary of the book.
  34. Poems on various subjects, religious and moral by Phillis Wheatley. Summary of the book.
  35. Die Verwandlung by Franz Kafka. Summary of the book.
  36. The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness by Florence Hartley. Summary of the book.
  37. The Tinguian: Social, Religious, and Economic Life of a Philippine Tribe by Fay-Cooper Cole. Summary of the book.
  38. An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe by Thomas Wright. Summary of the book.
  39. New Grub Street by George Gissing. Summary of the book.
  40. Bradford’s History of ‘Plimoth Plantation’ by William Bradford. Summary of the book.
  41. Ivanhoe: A Romance by Walter Scott. Summary of the book.
  42. The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People by Oscar Wilde. Summary of the book.
  43. Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One’s Reason and of Seeking Truth in the Sciences. Summary of the book.
  44. The Monk: A Romance by M. G. Lewis. Summary of the book.
  45. The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon by Washington Irving. Summary of the book.
  46. Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women by George MacDonald. Summary of the book.
  47. Cranford by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. Summary of the book.
  48. A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar (1998). Summary of the book.
  49. The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope. Summary of the book.
  50. Ireland’s disease by Philippe Daryl. Summary of the book.

Leave a Comment