On the Map

Garfield reminds me of [a:Simon Winchester 14053 Simon Winchester https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1286848563p2/14053.jpg], in that (for this book anyway) he has gone deep into his research and produced a book to cover his topic (and more) very thoroughly. With these types of books, if the subject matter interests the reader, it is a sure win. If it is marginally interesting, there is a risk of the reader losing momentum, or there not being enough interest to complete.In this case, Garfield takes on maps or cartography in general. He doesn't really delve into surveying or geography, although he pushes a bit far of topic for me at the end of the book (more below). He explores the various maps produced, those speculative areas of maps, the unexplored and the misinterpreted features, as do the mysteries around whether voyages were undertaken prior to those we record as histories firsts.Map projections are discussed, although not really very clearly explained in this case. A visit to Wikipedia shows there are many which to the layman seem very similar! Arranging his book chronologically makes sense - discovery followed by map updates etc, and with his relatively short chapters (some only a few pages) it assisted me to keep momentum. The history of the men (invariably) producing maps, their motivations and ambitions, and their financial benefits make for an interesting tale each time. Included also are the modern (or more modern) recoveries, trading and selling, and verification of the historic maps - again fast moving chapters, relatively short, which tell these interesting tales of fakes and shonky salesmen, the ludicrous prices paid by wealthy individuals or institutions and universities.After mapping history he moves into the London A to Z, which led him into travel guidebooks, with maps in place, although he reserved only a little space for the Lonely Planet books, which certainly in my era of travel were far more prevalent than the European Baedeker, Blue Guides, Frommer and the like. Tube maps also made an appearance for their unique organisation of the routes and stops.From there to treasure maps, maps in literature and then fantasy maps, leading into computer games based on maps. It was around this point I began looking forward to the end of this book and we went on to the sat-nav and then mapping of Mars. By this this point is the book, 400 pages through, it wasn't sufficient to hold my attention, and didn't seem relevant enough. It probably cost a half a star in my rating for prolonging the end.A quick mention of the illustrations, which unfortunately lost it another half star. All of the illustrations (in my edition, anyway) were black and white, and especially for those showing world maps, very small. I felt that a great many of them deserved colour, and especially those large maps - a full page.So a 4 or 4.5 star book with a couple of stumbles comes down to a 3 or 3.5 star book. Still interesting for the main, and well worth reading if you have an interest in cartography.

It probably doesn't surprise you that, in addition to being a book geek and a techno geek, I'm a map geek.

Are you a map geek, too?

If you are, then this book is for you. Every story out there with a map subtext is here. Treasure maps. Maps from Lewis & Clark. Map thieves. The story of GPS.

Read it. Even if you are just a little bit map geek-y. It makes for fascinating reading.