Flatland is populated by Squares, Triangles, Circles, and Lines, all of which are strictly divided by class and gender. However, our narrator, A Square, living a practical life in this two-dimensional universe, dreams of other worlds. Perhaps A Sphere, a figure from a three-dimensional realm, can help drive home the point. But, as A Square soon discovers, educating Flatland about the shapes of things to come proves to be a dangerous infraction.

Published in 1884, Abbott’s intricately imaginative novella, which became a classic in the era of Einstein, was a skewering of social hierarchy that inspired Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, and anyone who dared to think—literally—outside the box.

AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from the masters of storytelling. Ideal for anyone who wants to read a great work for the first time or rediscover an old favorite, these new editions open the door to literature’s most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds.

Revised edition: Previously published as Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions, this edition of Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.