The Annotated Flatland: A Romance of Many DimensionsFlatland is a unique, delightful satire that has charmed readers for over a century. Published in 1884 by the English clergyman and headmaster Edwin A. Abbott, it is the fanciful tale of A. Square, a two-dimensional being who is whisked away by a mysterious visitor to The Land of Three Dimensions, an experience that forever alters his worldview. Like the original, Ian Stewart's commentary takes readers on a strange and wonderful journey. With clarity and wit, Stewart illuminates Abbott's numerous Victorian references and touches on such diverse topics as ancient Babylon, Karl Marx, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Mt. Everest, H.G. Wells, and phrenology. The Annotated Flatland makes fascinating connections between Flatland and Abbott's era, resulting in a classic to rival Abbott's own, and a book that will inspire and delight curious readers for generations to come. |
Contents
THE ANNOTATED FLATLAND 1 | 1 |
Introduction by William Garnett 9 | 9 |
Preface to the Second and Revised Edition 1884 by the Editor 21 | 21 |
THIS WORLD 31 | 31 |
1 Of the Nature of Flatland 33 | 33 |
2 Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland 38 | 38 |
3 Concerning the Inhabitants of Flatland 43 | 43 |
4 Concerning the Women 49 | 49 |
OTHER WORLDS 111 | 111 |
13 How I had a Vision of Lineland 113 | 113 |
14 How I vainly tried to explain the nature of Flatland 121 | 121 |
15 Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland 129 | 129 |
16 How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to mein words the mysteries of Spaceland 136 | 136 |
17 How the Sphere having in vain tried words resorted to deeds 149 | 149 |
18 How I came to Spaceland and what I saw there 155 | 155 |
19 How though the Sphere shewed me other mysteries of Spaceland I still desired more and what came of it 164
| 164 |
5 Of our Methods of Recognizing one another 57 | 57 |
6 Of Recognition by Sight 65 | 65 |
7 Concerning Irregular Figures 73 | 73 |
8 Of the Ancient Practice of Painting 79 | 79 |
9 Of the Universal Colour Bill 84 | 84 |
10 Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition 90 | 90 |
11 Concerning our Priests 97 | 97 |
12 Of the Doctrine of our Priests 101 | 101 |
20 How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision 181 | 181 |
21 How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensionsto my Grandson and with what success 187 | 187 |
22 How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensionsby other means and of the result 191 | 191 |
The Fourth Dimension in Mathematics 203 | 203 |
| 231 | |
| 235 | |
| 237 | |
Further Reading 239 | 239 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abbott algebra angles appear Axiom become brain century Circle City color concept considered construction coordinates course creatures cube developed dimensional direction edition effect equal example existence explain feel females Figure Flatland followed four four-dimensional fourth dimension geometry give given half higher Hinton human idea inches inside interest Isosceles kind known land later length light logical London look mathe mathematicians mathematics means mind motion moving Nature object once Parallel pass physics plane polygons position possible problem proved published question readers reason regular relativity result seems sense sides solid space Spaceland Sphere Square story straight line Stranger surface theory things third thought three dimensions three-dimensional tion triangle two-dimensional universe Victorian whole Woman Women