13. Flatland by Edwin Abbott

Abbott, Edwin. Flatland. New York: Dover, 1952.

Flatland is a book that ended up on the list because multiple people recommended it to me. 'Multiple' meaning more than four. As much as I talk books with people, it is still rare to get more than two recommendations on a book not on the best sellers list in the last couple of years. There are a lot of books out there that satisfy a variety of tastes. Compound with that, that I know a variety of people with highly diverse interests. So, when I get more than four different recommendations for a book originally published in the 1880s it does peak my interest.

The way Flatland was always described to me was a 'geometric proof in novel form.' To that I'm adding it's a study in dimensionality and, for lack of more education in math, 'mathematical perspective.' These things are true. Lots of diagrams.

However, it is a mistake to say that this is simply a creative way of writing a mathematical proof. Unfortunately, that's all anyone ever seems to remember. This was written during the height of the Victorian Era: women are supposed to be fragile stupid flowers, a high importance is placed manners, men are the authoritarian heads of their households, and careful observation of expectations. So when I was about half way through and I encountered what a woman was in shapeland, I was shock and pissed. (see how I don't tell you what actually pissed me off, enticing yes?)

Anyway, I wasn't pissed long. Soon, it was pretty clear that Abbott was satirizing his entire culture: rules, expectations, everything. For such a short book there's a lot to it.