Edwin A. Abbott (1838-1926), a Victorian of great intellect and
wit, enjoyed success not only as a writer, but as a scholar,
educator, and theologian. Educated at St. John's College,
Cambridge, he was Headmaster of the City of London School from 1865
to 1889. During that time, his progressive belief in the importance
of the study of English for every student, even before traditional
classic curriculum, led him to write A Shakespearian Grammar (1870)
"to help solve most of the difficulties that will present
themselves to boys." It ran to three editions within its first year
of publication alone and continues to be a touchstone for
Shakespearean scholars. In 1884, he wrote Flatland. First
considered by many as merely "a pleasant tonic, and an excellent
stimulant for boys," it was later recognized as a magnificent work
of science fiction, as prophetic as those of Jules Verne and H. G.
Wells. Retiring to a scholarly life in 1889, he produced numerous
other works, including Silanus the Christian (1907), Apologia- An
Explanation and Defense (1907), Message of the Son of Man (1909),
and Light on the Gospel from an Ancient Poet (Odes of Solomon)
(1913).
Valerie M. Smith earned her PhD from the University of Connecticut.
An associate professor of English at Quinnipiac University in
Hamden, Connecticut, she is currently at work on a manuscript
entitled Crossroads- Cultural Autobiography and Imperial
Discourse.
John Allen Paulos is a Professor of Mathematics at Temple
University and the bestselling author of eight books including
Innumeracy, A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper, and Once upon a
Number. He has been a columnist for ABCNews.com, Scientific
American, and the Guardian, as well as the author of numerous
reviews, articles, and op-ed pieces for a variety of publications.
Among his many honors are the American Association for the
Advancement of Science Award for Promoting Public Understanding of
Science and the 2013 Mathematics Communication Award from the Joint
Policy Board for Mathematics.
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