Atlas of Lost Cities - by Aude De Tocqueville (Hardcover)

About the Book

Originally published: Paris: Flammarion, A2014.

Book Synopsis

Explore more than forty forsaken urban destinations around the world in a "highly entertaining read . . . for history buffs, mystery fanatics and travel junkies alike" (GoNomad).

Cities are mortal, but the traces they leave behind tell a fascinating story. In Atlas of Lost Cities, an accomplished travel writer reveals the rise and fall of notable places, each pithy portrait illuminated by a vintage map that puts armchair explorers right in the scene. Wander with care through:

• Ancient and legendary places like Pompeii, Teotihuacà and Angkor
• Contemporary wonders like Centralia, a nearly abandoned Pennsylvania town consumed by unquenchable underground fire
• Eerie planned communities like Nova Citas de Kilamba in Angola, where housing, schools, and stores were built for 500,000 people who never came
• Epecuen, a tourist town in Argentina that was swallowed by water

With each map are fantastical illustrations that help the reader envision these hubs as they were in their prime. A perfect gift for the traveler who believes he or she has seen it all.

Review Quotes

"[A] eulogy for ancient and modern cities that fell to crises both man-made and natural. The illustrations depict the cities before their nadir-somewhere between thriving and decimation."--Citylab.com

"Features well-known lost cities like Pompeii and Angkor, but also explores lesser-known, but similarly majestic places.... Each destination is accompanied by an account of its history and mythology, and a beautifully detailed illustration by Karin Doering-Froger."--Atlas Obscura

"For history buffs, mystery fanatics, and travel junkies alike, The Atlas of Lost Cities is a highly entertaining read filled with stories of the world's forgotten destinations."--GoNomad

About the Author

Aude de Tocqueville, a cultural heritage and history buff, has written numerous works on Paris and French history. Her book History of Adultery won the Grand Prix des Lectrices by Elle.