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The Golden Atlas

The Greatest Explorations, Quests and Discoveries on Maps
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( 292 ratings, 35 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Golden Atlas by Edward Brooke-Hitching is a captivating exploration of the world's cartographical history, highlighting how maps have shaped our understanding of the globe. This richly illustrated book delves into the fascinating stories behind rare and remarkable maps, shedding light on the blend of myth, science, and artistic endeavour in map-making through the ages. It offers an engaging journey through time, uncovering the mysteries and adventures that influenced the creation of these historical artefacts.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by historical maps and the tales behind them. It takes you on a journey through centuries of exploration, offering vivid stories of adventurers and cartographers who shaped our understanding of the world. It's a compelling read for history buffs or anyone drawn to the art of mapmaking and its influence on geopolitics.

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A spectacular visual history of exploration and cartography, stunningly illustrated throughout with some of the most beautiful maps ever created

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'Stunning...divine' Stephen Fry
‘A fabulous book, good enough to eat with a spoon! Marvellous’ John Lloyd, creator of QI
‘Perfect for the armchair adventurer historian, this is a rich visual exploration of some of the most beautiful charts ever created’ National Geographic
'Introduces us to a whole different way of looking at maps. Great illustrations, most engaging - the author is just a mine of information' Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

The Golden Atlas is a spectacular visual history of exploration and cartography, a treasure chest of adventures from the chronicles of global discovery, illustrated with a selection of the most beautiful maps ever created.

The book reveals how the world came to be known, featuring a magnificent gallery of exceptionally rare hand-coloured antique maps, paintings and engravings, many of which can only be found in the author's collection. Arranged chronologically, the reader is taken on a breathtaking expedition through Ancient Babylonian geography and Marco Polo's journey to the Mongol Khan on to buccaneers ransacking the Caribbean and the voyages of seafarers such as Captain Cook and fearless African pathfinders.

Their stories are told in an engaging and compelling style, bringing vividly to life a motley collection of heroic explorers, treasure-hunters and death-dealing villains - all of them accompanied by eye-grabbing illustrations from rare maps, charts and manuscripts.

The Golden Atlas takes you back to a world of darkness and peril, placing you on storm-lashed ships, frozen wastelands and the shores of hostile territories to see how the lines were drawn to form the shape of the modern world. The author's previous book, The Phantom Atlas, was a critically acclaimed international bestseller, described by Jonathan Ross as 'a spectacular, enjoyable and eye-opening read' and this new book is sure to follow suit.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Golden Atlas by Edward Brooke-Hitching has been praised as a visually rich and marvellous exploration of historical maps, capturing the essence of humanity's quest for discovery. It is admired for its beautiful presentation of rare maps and fascinating stories, making it perfect for those who love adventure and history from the comfort of their own home. The book's delightful storytelling and sumptuous visuals make it akin to an adventure in itself.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781471166822

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 18 October 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Simon & Schuster Ltd

Illustration: Full Colour Throughout

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 189.0mm

Height: 246.0mm

Weight: 700g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Edward Brooke-Hitching is the author of the critically acclaimed and bestselling books The Phantom Atlas (2016), The Golden Atlas (2018), The Sky Atlas (2019), The Madman's Library (2020) and The Devil's Atlas (2021), all of which have been translated into numerous languages; he is also the author of Fox Tossing, Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sports (2015). He is a writer for the BBC series QI. A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an incurable cartophile, he lives surrounded by dusty heaps of old maps and books in Berkshire. 

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