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Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (version 2)

by Edwin Abbott ABBOTT (1838 - 1926)

How I Vainly Tried to Explain the Nature of Flatland

This is a satirical novel written by Edwin A. Abbott, first published in 1884. Abbott uses a two-dimensional world, with himself as the protagonist, known simply as "A Square", to deride the Victorian aristocracy and its hierarchies. But the book has retained its value throughout the years for its unique portrayal of a two-dimensional world, and how a Sphere introduces the Square to the incomprehensible possibility of a third dimension. Once the square fully understands the third dimension, he suggests to the Sphere that even a fourth, fifth, or sixth dimension could exist. But the Sphere sends the square back to his two-dimensional world, where he cannot convince anyone of the existence of a three dimensional world. - Summary by Linda Olsen Fitak Read by Linda Olsen Fitak and Aaron White.

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Listen next episodes of Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (version 2):
Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland , How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there , How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result , How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success , How the Sphere encouraged me in a vision , How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds , How the Stranger Vainly Endeavored to Reveal to Me in Words the Mysteries of Spaceland , How, though the Sphere shewed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desire more; and what came of it