Flatland: A Romance in Many DimensionsA “romance in many dimensions” that has fascinated generations of readers with its clever blend of social satire and mathematical theory A Penguin Classic 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. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
Contents
Preface to the Second and Revised Edition 1884 | 1 |
This World | 5 |
Of the Nature of Flatland | 7 |
Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland | 10 |
Concerning the Inhabitants of Flat land | 13 |
Concerning the Women | 17 |
Of our Methods in Recognizing one another | 23 |
Of Recognition by Sight | 29 |
Of the Doctrine of our Priests | 56 |
Other Worlds | 63 |
How I had a Vision of Lineland | 65 |
How I vainly tried to explain the nature of Flatland | 71 |
Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland | 77 |
How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland | 81 |
How the Sphere having in vain tried words resorted to deeds | 90 |
How I came to Spaceland and what I saw there | 93 |
Concerning Irregular Figures | 35 |
Of the Ancient Practice of Painting | 39 |
Of the Universal Colour Bill | 43 |
Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition | 48 |
Concerning our Priests | 53 |
How though the Sphere shewed me other mysteries of Spaceland I still desired more and what came of it | 99 |
How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision | 107 |
How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson and with what success | 111 |
How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means and of the result | 114 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abbott ALAN LIGHTMAN Analogy angles appear Art of Sight Chief Circle Chromatistes Circular Colour Revolt creature Cube dimness discern dream EDWIN ABBOTT ABBOTT Einstein's Dreams Equilateral existence extremities feel Female Figure Fourth Dimension Geometry George Gamow Gospel of Three Grandson H. H. Asquith half hearing Hexagon infer inhabitants of Flatland inside Irregular Isosceles Jonathan Swift King Land of Three length Lewis Carroll Lineland look Lord Lordship Male marriage mean mension Monarch motion mouth moving mysteries of Spaceland Northwards once Penguin Books Pentagon perfect Perimeter Plane Polygon Priests Readers recognize Regular replied sense of sight shew Sight Recognition Soldier Solid Space Sphere Square Straight Line STRANGER string theory suppose tablets terminal Points theory things Third Dimension thou Three Dimensions three inches tion Tradesman Triangle truth Universal Colour Bill Upwards voice whole Wife Woman Women words write to Penguin