A 'romance of many dimensions' that has fascinated generations of readers with its clever blend of social satire and mathematical theory, the Penguin Classics edition of Edwin A. Abbott's Flatland introduction by Alan Lightman.
A work that continues to pose provocative questions about perception and reality, Flatland is a brilliant parody of Victorian society where all existence is limited to length and breadth - its inhabitants unable even to imagine a third dimension. The amiable narrator, A Square, provides an overview of this fantastic world - its physics and metaphysics, its history, customs and religious beliefs. But when a strange visitor mysteriously appears and transports the incredulous Flatlander to the Land of Three Dimensions, his world view is forever shattered.
Written more than a century ago, Flatland conceals within its brilliant parody of Victorian society speculations about the universe that resonate in Einstein's theory of relativity as well as the current 'string-theory' of nature.
Edwin A. Abbott (1838-1926) was a leading scholar and theologian of the Victorian era.
If you enjoyed Flatland you may like H.G. Wells's The Sleeper Awakes, also available in Penguin Classics.
Arvustused
At once a classic of science fiction, a playful brainteaser about geometry, a pointed satire of Victorian mannersand, finally, a strangely compelling argument about reason, faith, and the greatest mysteries of the universe. The Wall Street Journal
Introduction vii(10) Alan Lightman Suggestions for Further Reading xvii Preface to the Second and Revised Edition, 1884 1(4) PART I This World 5(58) 1 Of the Nature of Flatland 7(3) 2 Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland 10(3) 3 Concerning the Inhabitants of Flatland 13(4) 4 Concerning the Women 17(6) 5 Of our Methods in Recognizing one another 23(6) 6 Of Recognition by Sight 29(6) 7 Concerning Irregular Figures 35(4) 8 Of the Ancient Practice of Painting 39(4) 9 Of the Universal Colour Bill 43(5) 10 Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition 48(5) 11 Concerning our Priests 53(3) 12 Of the Doctrine of our Priests 56(7) PART II Other Worlds 63 13 How I had a Vision of Lineland 65(6) 14 How I vainly tried to explain the nature of Flatland 71(6) 15 Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland 77(4) 16 How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland 81(9) 17 How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds 90(3) 18 How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there 93(6) 19 How, though the Sphere shewed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what came of it 99(8) 20 How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision 107(4) 21 How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success 111(3) 22 How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result 114
Edwin A. Abbott (1838-1926) was a leading scholar and theologian of the Victorian era. Alan Lightman, the author of 'Einstein's Dream' and other books, is an astrophysicist and the Director of the Writing Program at M.I.T.
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