Maps and History: Constructing Images of the Past

I read a lot on cartography, particularly cartographic history, and I was excited to get this book. Unfortunately it was very disappointing. It has masses of carto-bibliographical detail, not put to much use in supporting a broader argument. And it is very short on any insight or analysis beyond the most superficial and obvious. Historical maps reflect the concerns and attitudes of the times and cultures in which they were produced - I didn't need to wade through this book to know that. This book could be useful for reference, but it won't deepen your understanding.

Jeremy Black is well-respected in cartographic circles, and this book is beautiful, with numerous colored maps. The point of the book is that maps, especially historical atlases, echo the era in which they were created. A Nazi atlas, for instance, shows what it wants; Imperial British atlases from the Victorian age has its biases to bear. But, unfortunately, this book is so very boring and competes with crackers for dryness. At no point was I ever riveted, and I never said "Wow!" to anything, perhaps a few subdued "mm-kays" every now and then.