Flatland: A Romance in Many Dimensions

By Edwin A. Abbott and Alan Lightman

A “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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Jun 1, 1998
• ISBN: 9781101212943

Reviews for Flatland

[andycyca-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The life and times of a nobleman in 2d, a very interesting view of how dimensions work and how life could work out in a flat sheet

[drardavis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As one interested in mathematics in sci-fi, this book has been on my to read list for some time. I’m glad I finally got around to reading it. It is unique and a bit difficult to describe. Partly it is a satire of English culture in 1884. Partly it is anthropomorphizing geometric figures, with surprisingly convincing results. That’s the sci-fi, Abbott’s imagined universe. But basically it is a very clever mathematical proof of the existence of God. Having recently read Frankenstein, I was delighted at the main character’s, A. Square, description of himself as “a second Prometheus.”

[danielstj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very strange, unique, and interesting.

[solitaryfossil · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was a fun re-read, I read it first about 100 years ago while in high school. Published in 1884, it usually gets categorized as Science Fiction, but it’s a social satire that skewers Victorian mores, especially how women were viewed by that society. And it examines dimensions. The main character is a 2 dimensional square who has a glimpse of the 3rd dimension, which sets him thinking in a new way.

It’s a pleasant little story.

[adam.currey · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I suspect it's an effect of this book having been written in the 1880's with language having changed quite a bit in the intervening time, but I found this book completely impenetrable - I only made it through 17 pages before giving up. Quite disappointing, as I was looking forward to it and was expecting it to be interesting.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A two-dimensional being records his journeys throughout various dimensions.Given his experience with the line I would have thought he would be more open to the possibility of a 3rd dimension.

[akblanchard_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A prolix quadrilateral named A. Square explains how things are done in Flatland, a two dimensional space where one's role in society is determined by the number of sides one has. Isosceles triangles are at the bottom of the rigid hierarchy and circles (which are regarded as having a large number of "sides") are at the top. Women, who are lines (or, more accurately, very thin parallelograms) are beneath contempt. Square also describes his visions of Lineland and Pointland, and his experiences learning from a mysterious being (a Sphere) about three-dimensional Spaceland. When he tries to share his newfound knowledge of multiple dimensions with the inhabitants of Flatland, he finds that he is treated as a heretic.As prior commentators on Flatland have observed, the book combines geometric observations with a satire on Victorian ideas of social hierarchy. I found this novella to be surprisingly entertaining and on-target, even for me as a non-geometrically inclined reader.

[vipulmathur-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A book that will challenge you to think about dimensions in a simple and surprising way.

[mrgan-2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Deservedly a classic of popular mathematics, Flatland makes the problem of multiple dimensions into a comprehensible adventure of sorts. It's a great concept and something everyone should read about at some point.

However, there are much better books today from which you could learn the basics of Flatland. Being a product of the late 19th century, the book is saddled with stuffy, annoying prose; outdated and distracting satire; and only a marginally interesting "plot".

If you've heard about the book in the context of a work which covered the same ideas of how to think about dimensionality and other presumably unthinkable concepts, you can probably skip Flatland, as not much else about it is worthwhile.

[bartlibert · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Having read the "unofficial sequel" Flatterland before, I was a bit disappointed by the very low amounts of science and mathematics in this book. But, on the other hand, it verges more towards philosophy and sociology. If you always keep in mind when this book was written, it serves as a nice satire of the thinking in that time (and even present thinking in some cases).Don't read this book for the plot, because it is very thin, but this is not really a big issue in this case.The book loses a star because of the frankly horrible "Preface to the second edition" where the author (sorry, the editor who speaks for the anonymous square who wrote the book) tries to answer to some of the criticisms he received - by denouncing some of the very ideas of the book and apparently failing to see the newly opened possibilities for satire.

[diehardkev · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A story told using simple geometry, brilliant! This is a journey of a 2D man into a 3D world and conveys much of the firm arrogance of Victorian society towards its scientific views, where to interrupt the set way of scientific thinking at that time, was tantamount to heresy. Perhaps not quite as an accessible subject as Alice in Wonderland, but this a fable of the same proprtions - elightening us to endless worlds of possibilities.

[drfuriosa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well, that hurt my brain. If you think Gulliver's Travels meets The Blazing World of Margaret Cavendish, then you're more likely to pick up on the social satire. As it was, I glazed over at the math parts more than once. This was an odd but interesting reading experience. I do think this is an overcomplicated tale, but the social criticism and weird gender stuff kept my interest.

[kittycunningh-815148 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was fascinating.

[rex_lui-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Quite disappointed. Clever analog with Math? Sure. Any productive suggestion? No. Cynism is not the answer, curiosity and compassion are. But then, it's written from 135 years ago. Society progresses, human evolves. We are currently in the best zeitgeist on human period. The function of cynism declines.

[m.belljackson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Incredible premise of actual life in two dimensions. It would be good to have the mathematical skills to totally comprehend the entire document.For those of us with somewhat lesser statistical brains than Stephen Hawking, it does get very boring. A kid's edition would be welcome!

[randulf-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A story told using simple geometry, brilliant! This is a journey of a 2D man into a 3D world and conveys much of the firm arrogance of Victorian society towards its scientific views, where to interrupt the set way of scientific thinking at that time, was tantamount to heresy. Perhaps not quite as an accessible subject as Alice in Wonderland, but this a fable of the same proprtions - elightening us to endless worlds of possibilities.

[starcat-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A satire of Victorian cultural norms, it's the story of a denizen of a two dimensional world, a square by the name A. Square. The first half skewers the class system and the deplorable condition of women. Going into this book, I thought it was only a satire of the class system, so I initially believed the misogyny was merely background noise. After a few pages though, it became so outrageous that I realized it was also satirical. Bravo, M Abbot. At the end there's some stuff about art, science, and individual expression, but I'm not sure how successful that was/is.The second half concerns A Square's dream of a one dimensional world, and a forced journey to 3D world wherein he can see the nature of his own world. This forms the background into some pointed questions about political authority and religious veracity, especially when Square attempts to get a 3D Sphere to contemplate a 4th dimension. It's a bit forced, and is less satire and more questioning, but I think it still works.4 stars oc, 3.5 for the book, and an extra .5 because my copy smells fantastic.

[antt-4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This classic should be a must-read! Need I say more?

[paulagraph · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An amusing and petite (82 pp)mathematical fantasy written over a century ago, Flatland proves to be a gentle social satire a la Gulliver's Travels that doesn't quite manage to rise above the sexism and classism of its time (even while poking fun at such social prejudices). Flatland's Gulliver is a Professional Man Square (for comparison, Middle Class Men are Equilateral Triangles, all Women are Straight Lines & Lower Class Males are Isosceles Triangles of varying angles, the more acute, the lower the class) in a two-dimensional world where the ultimate goal is to engender a Circle. He visits the one-dimensional world of the line in a dream, the no-dimensional world of the point in his imagination and the three-dimensional world of the cube and the sphere with the assistance of a guide from Spaceland. He is ultimately imprisoned (what else could be his fate?) as a heretic (his heresy, the news of 3-dimensional Space).

[darthdeverell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In Flatland, Edwin A. Abbot uses fiction to provide a unique understanding of dimensions. Rather than start with a three-dimensional subject and descend "downward," he starts in the "middle," with a two-dimensional square in Flatland that first visits a one-dimensional world called Lineland before "ascending" to the three-dimensional world of Spaceland. Abbot's narrative technique is quite effective in setting up his explanation of spatial geometry, though the first part of his story suffers from many of the biases and prejudices of his day. The first half of the book, and much of the second half, is replete with blatant misogyny and an approving portrayal of eugenics. Though Abbot's work plays a significant role in speculative fiction, he could not escape the views of his own time even as he invented new worlds. This work will interest fans of speculative fiction and those looking at the history of science fiction, but is unpalatable to modern sensibilities.

[6boysandme · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Summary: A mathematical love story (seriously) filled with dimensions that I think I'm just not bright enough to understand!

[aliceinpains · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Flatland" is a mathematical satire and religious allegory, written in the shape of the memoirs of A Square, an inhabitant of a two-dimensional world, who had visited other lands - Pointland, Lineland and Spaceland - and gained invaluable insights into the structure of the Universe. Though these journeys and dreams/visions sound like a religious experience (and Edwin Abbott himself was a theologian), the main goal of "Flatland" - to make us think outside the observable world and imagine new dimensions, dimensions we can't perceive - is not necessarily religious in nature. This Square hopes that his account "may stir up a race of rebels who shall refuse to be confined to limited Dimensionality": "like a second Prometheus, I will endure this and worse, if by any means I may arouse in the interiors of Plane and Solid Humanity a spirit of Rebellion against the Conceit which would limit our Dimensions to Two or Three or any number short of Infinity." I thought this was quite interesting and nicely done. Also, in the first part of the book, Abbott cleverly uses geometrical concepts to criticize his own society (e.g. social stratification is depicted as hierarchy of geometric figures). It was fun.Bear in mind that "Flatland" was written in the 19th century, and if you like math, social critique and enjoy pondering the nature of the Universe (or Multiverse) - you'll like this book. A religious person might experience it on a different level, but I guess they'd like it as well.

[bleached_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly brilliant. I've always had a fascination with theories of dimensions and to see this sense of science blended in with fiction that provokes the mind is nothing short of ingenious.A Square speaks mainly of his home in Flatland, a two dimensional world, that is ruled by a monarchy of oppressive circles and a hierarchy of shapes with Isosceles triangles and women (who are straight lines or very thin parallelograms)being at the bottom.A Square also talks about his experiences in visions of Pointland, Lineland, and Spaceland, our three dimensional world, and his concept of infinite dimensions that even the most advanced Sphere can not comprehend.Very thought provoking, smart, and imaginative. This may be a more difficult read from some but for those with a love of dimensional thought, it's an absolute must read.

[lee7mervin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful mixture of science fiction and satire

[lyndatrue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

From the Introduction:Here is a stirring adventure in pure mathematics, a fantasy of strange spaces peopled by geometric figures; geometric figures that think and speak and have all too human emotions. This is no trifling tale of science fiction. Its aim is to instruct, and it is written with subtle artistry...

[john257hopper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a short late 19th century concept novel, based on the imaginary thoughts of an inhabitant (a Square) of a land of two dimensions and the conversations he has with the Sphere, a being from Spaceland, a world of three dimensions. Lineland and Pointland also make appearances. I appreciated the author's intent in trying to show how the concept of dimension entirely governs one's notion of the universe; at the same time, I was amused by how the author's natural assumptions of nineteenth century middle class life governed even these other dimensional worlds; so, the Square's household (his wife is a line, his sons pentagons and his grandsons hexagons) has servants (triangles) and there is a criminal underclass of isosceles triangles. Even Lineland has a King. Pointland is (naturally) just a single being unaware of the existence of any other being. Simultaneously interesting and amusing little book.

[nmarun-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I heard the audio book of Flatland and I found it very basic in terms of Geometry. I did like the author's creativity in creating the 1- and 2-dimensional world.

[chris_el-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most important book I've ever read. It was written a long time ago but still remains one of the best mind stretching ways to open you mind up to understanding the dimensionality of reality. The implications are not merely scientific. The theological implications are significant as well. For instance, if God exists outside of the dimension of time (I believe he is both within and without) then for Him there is no predestination or foreknowledge. Only knowledge of all things.

I am adding this note on this book in Jan 2011. I read this book in 2003 (borrowed from Jonathan Jessup) and it is still shaping the way I see the world. I need to re-read for a refresher. :)

[leticia.toraci · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very original book, where you will think in geometric figures at every line. It also sounds quite modern even if it was written in 1884. Its satirical tone makes it a priceless reading jewel and I would certainly recommend it.

[kimmarie1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely brilliant - a true masterpiece. The premise is so simple - just the basics of elementary school mathematics. Abbott makes characters out of basic shapes with such diversity and far reaching social commentaries that are as relevant today as it was in the time in which he wrote it.