Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott is simultaneously a brilliant explanation of dimensions and a satirical look at social hierarchy. I first heard of Flatland on an episode of The Big Bang Theory and it stuck with me as a very interesting concept to have a story set in a two-dimensional world. Then, when I was digging into public domain books about a year ago and found it was available to read for free, I just had to read it! However, I never got around to writing a review until I was reminded of Flatland once again by a passage from Childhood’s End.
Book Stats
- Title: Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
- Author: Edwin A. Abbott
- Genre: Science Fiction, Satire
- Publication Date: 1884
- Pages: 96
- Est. Reading Time: 3 hours
- My Rating: 4/5 Stars
- Read Free: Gutenberg, Wikisource, or Feedbooks
- Or Buy: Amazon or BAM!
Flatland: Plot Summary
Flatland is set in a two-dimensional world where people are geometric shapes. Women are simple lines and men are polygons with any number of sides. The more sides one has, the higher his status. Their world is described by a Square, a mathematician of the gentleman class, who lays out the realities of life in two-dimensions and the history of their world.
After thoroughly explaining Flatland, Square dreams of Lineland where there is only one dimension occupied by lines and points who cannot pass by each other. While in Lineland, Square tries to convince the monarch of a second dimension but is unable to. Following his dream, Square is visited by a Sphere back in Flatland who tells him of a third dimension. However, Sphere only appears as a circle in Flatland and Square is reluctant to believe him until he is taken to visit Spaceland for himself!
While in Spaceland, a three-dimensional world like ours, Square comes to suggest a fourth and potentially even higher dimensions may exist. Unfortunately, Sphere cannot accept these ideas and sends Square back to Flatland for suggesting them. A final journey is made to Pointland where there are no dimensions and the sole occupant, a Point, is the entire universe. Square tries to explain the existence of dimensions beyond Pointland, but again is unsuccessful:
“You see,” said my Teacher, “how little your words have done. So far as the Monarch understands them at all, he accepts them as his own – for he cannot conceive of any other except himself – and plumes himself upon the variety of Its Thought as an instance of creative Power. Let us leave this god of Pointland to the ignorant fruition of his omnipresence and omniscience: nothing that you or I can do can rescue him from his self-satisfaction.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Flatland: My Thoughts
I found the concepts in Flatland fascinating and really enjoyed reading it! However, unless you read it for yourself, it’s pretty hard to explain. Overall, I think the book is about the importance of keeping an open mind. An open mind and willing imagination are crucial to putting yourself in the worlds of different dimensions and appreciating Abbott’s social commentary.
Keeping an Open Mind
It can be easy to get stuck in our ways and what we “know to be true”, even when faced with overwhelming evidence of a new truth. Besides Square, few characters in the book are open-minded enough to accept the possibility of dimensions higher than their own. Even Sphere, who Square holds as his Master for showing him the various dimensions beyond Flatland, refuses to consider the possibility of a four-dimensional world:
“Sphere. Not I. There is no such land. The very idea of it is utterly inconceivable.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
“I. Not inconceivable, my Lord, to me, and therefore still less inconceivable to my Master.”
And when Square tries to convince Flatland of the possibilities available in expanding to Spaceland, he is held as a fool:
“Fool,” said he, “Space is Length. Interrupt me again, and I have done.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
This leads to one of my favorite quotes from the book that, unfortunately, often applies to people with new ideas. As such, we must all try to remember this lesson and keep an open mind when presented new information.
“I would quote the saying of an ancient Circle, who declared that prophets and inspired people are always considered by the majority to be mad.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Social Commentary
In addition to the scientific / mathematical significance of Flatland, the fictitious world is used to comment on Victorian society. In particular, Abbott paints the class hierarchy and women’s place at the bottom in a harsh light. However, unlike some other satires like A Modest Proposal, Flatland seems more focused on bringing awareness to the system’s failings than proposing solutions.
“On the simple ground of the enfeebling of the male intellect, I rest this humble appeal to the highest Authorities to reconsider the regulations of Female education.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Flatland: Favorite Quotes
“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.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
“Such a life, with all vision limited to a Point, and all motion to a Straight Line, seemed to me inexpressibly dreary.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
“Learn his lesson, that to be self-contented is to be vile and ignorant, and that to aspire is better than to be blindly and impotently happy.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
“Either this is madness or it is Hell.” “It is neither,” calmly replied the voice of the Sphere, “it is Knowledge; it is Three Dimensions: open your eye once again and try to look steadily.”
– Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
Flatland: Final Thoughts
I’d recommend anyone who likes math or physics read Flatland! As I said, it takes a bit of imagination to understand the different dimensional worlds, so you’ll want to make sure you get a version that includes the illustrations to help with this. Once you’ve read it, you’ll probably find it helpful in understanding other similar concepts and may even be reminded of it in other readings like I was with Childhood’s End:
“The planet was absolutely flat. Its enormous gravity had long ago crushed into one uniform level the mountains of its fiery youth—mountains whose mightiest peaks had never exceeded a few meters in height. Yet there was life here, for the surface was covered with myriad geometrical patterns that crawled and moved and changed their color. It was a world of two dimensions, inhabited by beings who could be no more than a fraction of a centimeter in thickness.”
– Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood’s End
Have you read Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott? What did you think? Have you seen it referenced or been reminded of it anywhere?
Sounds like it was a great book, loved reading your review!
Thank you!
This sounds fantastic! I have never heard of this book before, but I’m downloading it from Gutemberg right now. What an intriguing way to describe the human inability of seeing beyond itself. Great review! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I’m glad you found it intriguing! You’ll have to let me know what you think once you’ve read it. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Great review, it sounds like a really interesting book, unfortunately, I really struggle with maths and physics, so I think I’ll have to give it a miss. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks! It is really interesting and I think Abbott does a good job of making difficult concepts easier to understand, but it is still pretty abstract so I understand it’s not for everyone.