Flatland
An Edition with Notes and Commentary

Edwinn A. Abbott (Author)

9780521759946

Paperback / softback, published 30 December 2010

306 pages, 44 b/w illus. 1 table
22.6 x 15.3 x 1.6 cm, 0.412 kg

It is all good fun, and the authors point out much that we readers would probably otherwise miss…. This annotated version of Flatland is clearly designed to be enjoyed by a very wide audience. … Readers of this edition will become more familiar with Edwin A. Abbott the person. The multitude of notes explaining, among other things, Abbott’s wordplay, his grasp of classical Greek culture, and his critical views of Victorian society makes us almost feel like we are having a conversation with him…. I highly recommend this edition. Abbott’s story can be enjoyed by those with a taste for any combination of mathematics, linguistics, social commentary, history, philosophy, religion, and faith. Lindgren and Banchoff’s notes and commentary deepen the enjoyment of these many dimensions of Abbott’s creation." - David A. Huckaby, MAA Reviews

"There (have been) lots of new editions (of Flatland) and further interpretations of the original. But the book presented here is something totally new. … The book can be highly recommended, it is a must for all admirers of Flatland." - Karin Reich, Zentralblatt MATH

"Flatland should be in every mathematics collection, and this is the definitive edition. Outstanding Academic Title." - C. A. Gorini, Maharishi University of Management, Choice Magazine

"With their informative notes, Banchoff and Lindgren add immeasurably to the text. In addition to explanations of arcane terminology and of the mathematics involved, they provide the background necessary to understand the book in the context of Victorian England. It is a period during which entrenched ideas, both social and scientific, were undergoing dramatic metamorphosis. Banchoff and Lindgren’s comments on Abbott and his milieu allow the reader to comprehend this fascinating turning point in history. ... The plethora of fascinating background information and detail will make you appreciate the book at a much deeper level." - American Scientist

Flatland, Edwin Abbott's story of a two-dimensional universe, as told by one of its inhabitants who is introduced to the mysteries of three-dimensional, has enjoyed an enduring popularity from the time of its publication in 1884. This fully annotated edition enables the modern-day reader to understand and appreciate the many dimensions of the classic satire with commentary on language and literary style, including numerous definitions of obscure words and an appendix on Abbott's life and work.

Historical commentary, writings by Plato and Aristotle, and citations from Abbott's other writings work together to show how this tale relates to Abbott's view of society in late Victorian England and classical Greece. Approaching the book from a mathematical stance, additional notes and illustrations enhance the usefulness of Flatland as an elementary introduction to higher-dimensional geometry.