Flatland
Complete textA Square describes a world whose inhabitants move in only two dimensions and whose social ranks follow geometric shape. An encounter with a reality beyond his ordinary perception challenges both his account of nature and the authority of the society that accepts it.
Continue readingAbout Flatland
The narrator explains strange geometry with the confidence of a familiar guide, often revealing prejudice while believing he is merely stating facts. Mathematical possibilities and social hierarchy reinforce one another. Read the limits of his imagination alongside the institutions that decide which experiences can be reported as credible knowledge.
Reading focus
Use the geometric explanations to examine how the narrator's society turns limited perception into social authority.
This reading edition contains 33,476 words in 22 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.
Author: Edwin Abbott. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.
Opening excerpt
“Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.”
Contents
All sections- PART I THIS WORLD — § 1 Of the Nature of Flatland4 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 2 Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland4 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 3 Concerning the Inhabitants of Flatland6 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 4 Concerning the Women9 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 5 Of our Methods of Recognizing one another9 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 6 Of Recognition by Sight8 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 7 Concerning Irregular Figures6 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 8 Of the Ancient Practice of Painting5 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 9 Of the Universal Colour Bill6 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 10 Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition7 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 11 Concerning our Priests5 min
- PART I THIS WORLD — § 12 Of the Doctrine of our Priests8 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 13 How I had a Vision of Lineland8 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 14 How I vainly tried to explain the nature of Flatland9 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 15 Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland6 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 16 How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland13 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 17 How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds5 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 18 How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there8 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 19 How, though the Sphere shewed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desire more; and what came of it12 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 20 How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision.6 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 21 How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success5 min
- PART II OTHER WORLDS — § 22 How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result14 min
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Is this the complete Flatland?
This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 22 sections and 33,476 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.
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