Edwin Abbott Abbott

Edwin Abbott Abbott
Edwin Abbott Abbott (1838–1926) was an English schoolmaster, theologian, and writer best known for his novella "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" (1884). "Flatland" explores the concept of dimensions through the story of a two-dimensional world inhabited by geometric shapes, serving as both a satirical social commentary and a mathematical allegory. Abbott was also a noted scholar of Shakespeare and biblical literature, authoring several theological and educational works. His innovative ideas in "Flatland" continue to influence discussions in mathematics, physics, and literature today.

Author's Books:


PREFACE. Almost every English boy can be taught to write clearly, so far at least as clearness depends upon the arrangement of words. Force, elegance, and variety of style are more difficult to teach, and far more difficult to learn; but clear writing can be reduced to rules. To teach the art of writing clearly is the main object of these Rules and Exercises. Ambiguity may arise, not only from bad... more...

SECTION 1 Of the Nature of Flatland I call our world Flatland, not because we call it so, but to make its nature clearer to you, my happy readers, who are privileged to live in Space. Imagine a vast sheet of paper on which straight Lines, Triangles, Squares, Pentagons, Hexagons, and other figures, instead of remaining fixed in their places, move freely about, on or in the surface, but without the power... more...

If my poor Flatland friend retained the vigour of mind which he enjoyed when he began to compose these Memoirs, I should not now need to represent him in this preface, in which he desires, firstly, to return his thanks to his readers and critics in Spaceland, whose appreciation has, with unexpected celerity, required a second edition of his work; secondly, to apologize for certain errors and misprints... more...