The Library of Lost Maps - by James Cheshire (Hardcover)

About the Book

From renowned geographer James Cheshire, a four-color tour through a forgotten collection of maps that shaped over 200 years of Western history.

Book Synopsis

From renowned geographer James Cheshire, a four-color tour through a forgotten collection of maps that shaped over 200 years of Western history.
Tucked just beyond a clutter of offices and a lecture hall in the heart of London, there lies a turquoise door. Years ago, James Cheshire stepped through and was astonished by what he found: thousands of maps and atlases, bulging from wooden drawers and glass cabinets. It was a map library-an Aladdin's cave of cartographic treasures.

In The Library of Lost Maps, Cheshire transports us to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when the maps before him were wielded for war and used to negotiate during peace; when the charts housed in the library traced, for the first time, the icy peaks of the Himalayas and the deepest depths of the ocean. Maps have played a vital role in shaping our scientific knowledge of the world, inspiring the theory of plate tectonics and showing the impacts of climate change. They have also guided politicians, encouraging both beneficial reforms and horrific conquests, the consequences of which we continue to live with today.

Brimming with surprising discoveries and stunning four-color map reproductions, The Library of Lost Maps unveils the power of maps to remind us of our past and inspire us toward a better future.

Review Quotes

"Fantastic . . . a magical combo of art and graphic gut-punch." --Dave Eggers on ATLAS OF THE INVISIBLE

"Spectacular and truly Humboldtian." --Andrea Wulf on ATLAS OF THE INVISIBLE

"An enthralling volume, downright gorgeous in its illustrations and text." --NPR on WHERE THE ANIMALS GO

"Beautiful as well as inspiring." --Jane Goodall on WHERE THE ANIMALS GO

About the Author

James Cheshire is Britain's only Professor of Geographic Information and Cartography. A world-leading map maker, his creations have been enjoyed by millions. He is an elected fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and has been recognized with awards from the Royal Geographical Society and the British Cartographic Society. His co-authored book Atlas of the Invisible won the American Association of Geographer's Globe Award. When he is not making, writing about, or teaching with maps, James spends his time scouring eBay, in hope that one day, he'll have a map library of his own. He lives in London.