British theologian and author (1838?1926)
Edwin Abbott Abbott
FBA
(20 December 1838 ? 12 October 1926)
[1]
was an English
schoolmaster
,
theologian
, and
Anglican priest
, best known as the author of the
novella
Flatland
(1884).
Biography
[
edit
]
Edwin Abbott Abbott was the eldest son of
Edwin Abbott
(1808–1882), headmaster of the Philological School,
Marylebone
, and his wife, Jane Abbott (1806–1882). His parents were first cousins.
He was born in London and educated at the
City of London School
and at
St John's College
,
Cambridge
,
[2]
where he took the highest honours of his class in
classics
,
mathematics
and
theology
, and became a
fellow
of his college. In particular, he was 1st
Smith's prizeman
in 1861.
[3]
[a]
In 1862 he took orders. After holding masterships at
King Edward's School, Birmingham
, he succeeded
G. F. Mortimer
as headmaster of the
City of London School
in 1865, at the early age of 26. There, he oversaw the education of future Prime Minister
H. H. Asquith
. Abbott was
Hulsean lecturer
in 1876.
[4]
He retired in 1889, and devoted himself to literary and theological pursuits. Abbott's open-minded inclinations in theology were prominent both in his educational views and in his books. His
Shakespearian Grammar
(1870) is a permanent contribution to English
philology
. In 1885, he published a life of
Francis Bacon
. His theological writings include three anonymously published religious romances ?
Philochristus
(1878), where he tried to raise interest in
Gospels
reading,
Onesimus
(1882), and
Silanus the Christian
(1908).
[4]
More weighty contributions are the anonymous theological discussion
The Kernel and the Husk
(1886),
Philomythus
(1891), his book
The Anglican Career of
Cardinal Newman
(1892), and his article "The Gospels" in the ninth edition of the
Encyclopædia Britannica
, embodying a critical view which caused considerable stir in the English theological world. He also wrote
St Thomas of Canterbury, His Death and Miracles
(1898),
Johannine Vocabulary
(1905), and
Johannine Grammar
(1906).
[4]
Abbott also wrote educational textbooks, one being
Via Latina: A First Latin Book
which was published in 1880 and distributed around the world within the education system.
Flatland
[
edit
]
Flatland
title page, 1884
Abbott's best-known work is his 1884 novella
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
which describes a two-dimensional world and explores the nature of dimensions. It has often been categorized as
science fiction
although it could more precisely be called "mathematical fiction".
With the advent of modern science fiction from the 1950s to the present day,
Flatland
has seen a revival in popularity,
[5]
especially among
science fiction
and
cyberpunk
fans.
[6]
Many works have been inspired by the novella, including novel sequels and short films.
[6]
Bibliography
[
edit
]
- Via Latina: A First Latin Book, Including Accidence, Rules of Syntax, Exercises, Vocabularies and Rules for Construing
(
Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday
, revised edition: 1882)
- Shakespearian Grammar: An Attempt to Illustrate Some of the Differences Between Elizabethan and Modern English, for the Use of Schools
(Macmillan, 1870)
- Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
(
Seeley & Co.
, 1884)
- Francis Bacon: An Account of His Life and Works
(Macmillan, 1885)
- Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the Lord
(Macmillan, 1878)
- Onesimus: Memoirs of a Disciple of St. Paul
(Macmillan, 1882)
- The Kernel and the Husk
(Macmillan, 1886)
- Philomythus: An Antidote Against Credulity
(Macmillan, 1891)
- The Anglican Career of John Henry Newman|Cardinal Newman
(Macmillan, 1892)
- St Thomas of Canterbury: His Death and Miracles
(Adam and Charles Black, 1898)
- Johannine Vocabulary: A Comparison of the Words of the Fourth Gospel with Those of the Three
(Adam and Charles Black, 1905)
- Johannine Grammar
(Adam and Charles Black, 1906)
- Silanus the Christian
(Adam and Charles Black, 1906)
- The FourFold Gospel: or, A Harmony of The Four Gospels
in five volumes, 1913-1917
See also
[
edit
]
Explanatory notes
[
edit
]
- ^
This seems to be an error by Venn: Colby's preface to Abbott's
Flatland
states that Abbott was 7th
Senior Optime
,
Senior Classic
and 1st Chancellor's Medallist in 1861; William Steadman Aldis was 1st Smith's Prizeman in 1861.
References
[
edit
]
Further reading
[
edit
]
- Clute, John
;
Nicholls, Peter
(1995).
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 1.
ISBN
0-312-13486-X
.
Cooper, Thompson
(1884).
"Abbott, The Rev. Edwin Abbott"
.
Men of the Time
(eleventh ed.). London: George Routledge & Sons. pp. 1?2.
- Harper, Lila Marz, ed. (2010).
Flatland
. Peterborough, Ontario, Canada: Broadview.
ISBN
978-1-55111-690-7
.
- Thorne, J.O.; T.C. Collocott (1984).
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap.
ISBN
0-550-18022-2
.
- Tuck, Donald H.
(1974).
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy
. Chicago: Advent. p. 1.
ISBN
0-911682-27-9
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
Sequels
| |
---|
Related works
| |
---|
Film adaptations
| |
---|
Themes
| |
---|
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Academics
| |
---|
Artists
| |
---|
People
| |
---|
Other
| |
---|