1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910820034203321

Autore

Abbott Edwin Abbott <1838-1926, >

Titolo

Flatland / / Edwin A. Abbott ; an edition with notes and commentary by William F. Lindgren, Thomas F. Banchoff [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cambridge : , : Cambridge University Press, , 2010

ISBN

1-139-88693-2

1-139-85538-7

1-139-85501-8

1-139-81402-8

1-139-85520-4

1-139-85529-8

1-139-19492-5

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (ix, 294 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Spectrum

Disciplina

530.11

Soggetti

Fourth dimension

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (pages 267-276) and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

Of the nature of flatland -- Of the climate and houses in flatland -- Concerning the inhabitants of flatland -- Concerning the women-- Of our methods of recognizing one another -- Of recognition by sight -- Concerning irregular figures -- Of the ancient practice of painting -- Of the universal colour bill -- Of the suppression of the chromatic sedition -- Concerning our priests -- Of the doctrine of our priests -- How I had a vision of lineland -- How in my vision I endeavored to explain the nature of Flatland, but could not -- Concerning a stranger from spaceland -- How the stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of spaceland -- How the sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds -- How I came to spaceland, and what I saw there -- How, though the sphere showed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what came of it -- How the sphere encouraged me in a vision -- How I tried to teach the theory of three dimensions to my grandson, and with what success -- How I then tried to diffuse the theory of three dimensions by other means, and of the result -- Epilogue by the editor.



Sommario/riassunto

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 space, 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 this classic satire. Mathematical notes and illustrations enhance the usefulness of Flatland as an elementary introduction to higher-dimensional geometry. Historical notes show connections to late-Victorian England and to classical Greece. Citations from Abbott's other writings as well as the works of Plato and Aristotle serve to interpret the text. Commentary on language and literary style includes numerous definitions of obscure words. An appendix gives a comprehensive account of the life and work of Flatland's remarkable author.