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A History of the 20th Century in 100 Maps
The twentieth century was a golden age of mapmaking, an era of cartographic boom. Maps proliferated and permeated almost every aspect of daily life, not only chronicling geography and history but also charting and conveying myriad political and social agendas. Here Tim Bryars and Tom Harper select one hundred maps from the millions printed, drawn, or otherwise constructed during the twentieth century and recount through them a narrative of the century’s key events and developments.
As Bryars and Harper reveal, maps make ideal narrators, and the maps in this book tell the story of the 1900s—which saw two world wars, the Great Depression, the Swinging Sixties, the Cold War, feminism, leisure, and the Internet. Several of the maps have already gained recognition for their historical significance—for example, Harry Beck’s iconic London Underground map—but the majority of maps on these pages have rarely, if ever, been seen in print since they first appeared. There are maps that were printed on handkerchiefs and on the endpapers of books; maps that were used in advertising or propaganda; maps that were strictly official and those that were entirely commercial; maps that were printed by the thousand, and highly specialist maps issued in editions of just a few dozen; maps that were envisaged as permanent keepsakes of major events, and maps that were relevant for a matter of hours or days.
As much a pleasure to view as it is to read, A History of the Twentieth Century in 100 Maps celebrates the visual variety of twentieth century maps and the hilarious, shocking, or poignant narratives of the individuals and institutions caught up in their production and use.
As Bryars and Harper reveal, maps make ideal narrators, and the maps in this book tell the story of the 1900s—which saw two world wars, the Great Depression, the Swinging Sixties, the Cold War, feminism, leisure, and the Internet. Several of the maps have already gained recognition for their historical significance—for example, Harry Beck’s iconic London Underground map—but the majority of maps on these pages have rarely, if ever, been seen in print since they first appeared. There are maps that were printed on handkerchiefs and on the endpapers of books; maps that were used in advertising or propaganda; maps that were strictly official and those that were entirely commercial; maps that were printed by the thousand, and highly specialist maps issued in editions of just a few dozen; maps that were envisaged as permanent keepsakes of major events, and maps that were relevant for a matter of hours or days.
As much a pleasure to view as it is to read, A History of the Twentieth Century in 100 Maps celebrates the visual variety of twentieth century maps and the hilarious, shocking, or poignant narratives of the individuals and institutions caught up in their production and use.
Hardcover
First published June 7, 2013
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187 people want to read
About the author
Tim Bryars
4 booksTim Bryars is an antiquarian bookseller in London's West End, a specialist in the field of rare maps, and organiser of the London Map Fair.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 9, 2019
The first reaction upon seeing the book on the shelf was Meh, another book with a collection of maps. Only I was wrong! This is truly a fascinating book.
October 24, 2014
A lot of fun!
The authors have taken the 20th century, and told its story in 10o maps. (As you may have guessed from the title!) But please don't imagine an indigestible academic tome droning on and on.
How it is organized: The book starts at 1900, and ends with 1999. A buffet you can "dip into" as you like. Well deserving of a place on the coffee table. But beware... leave it out and accessible, and you may find yourself late for appointments. Two hundred (plus) pages, 100 years... you get the idea.
By the way... at the time this review is being written, Mr Harper is identified as a crime writer. The co-author of this book is a different Tom Harper, the curator of antiquarian maps at the British Library.
The authors have done a good job of varying the material. While there are of course maps relating to "serious" issues, 1926 is devoted to the map of the Hundred Acre Wood drawn by Christopher Robin ("Mr Shepard Helpd"... as Billy Moon was six, I think we can forgive him the missed "e"? Pretty good for a six year old to remember to credit his co-author, don't you think?)
Beautifully produced. Some of the original maps are meters across, so squeezing them, legibly, into a 28x22cm format took care and expertise.
A wonderful gift, as everyone will appreciate it on some level, and can invest as much (or as little) time in it as they wish.
The authors have taken the 20th century, and told its story in 10o maps. (As you may have guessed from the title!) But please don't imagine an indigestible academic tome droning on and on.
How it is organized: The book starts at 1900, and ends with 1999. A buffet you can "dip into" as you like. Well deserving of a place on the coffee table. But beware... leave it out and accessible, and you may find yourself late for appointments. Two hundred (plus) pages, 100 years... you get the idea.
By the way... at the time this review is being written, Mr Harper is identified as a crime writer. The co-author of this book is a different Tom Harper, the curator of antiquarian maps at the British Library.
The authors have done a good job of varying the material. While there are of course maps relating to "serious" issues, 1926 is devoted to the map of the Hundred Acre Wood drawn by Christopher Robin ("Mr Shepard Helpd"... as Billy Moon was six, I think we can forgive him the missed "e"? Pretty good for a six year old to remember to credit his co-author, don't you think?)
Beautifully produced. Some of the original maps are meters across, so squeezing them, legibly, into a 28x22cm format took care and expertise.
A wonderful gift, as everyone will appreciate it on some level, and can invest as much (or as little) time in it as they wish.
June 10, 2019
One of the other reviewers states that this book is "beautifully produced" and that the maps are "legible." Those words do NOT describe the book that I am looking at. His review is attached to an edition that says: Published 2014 by The British Library ISBN13 9780712358569. Can it really be that different from the University of Chicago Press edition?
I saw this book on the new book shelf at the library and thought it would be interesting. OK, the text is interesting enough I suppose although totally Britishcentric. But it's supposed to be a map book and the maps look like thumbnails.
If the intention of the author was to have a couple of paragraphs of text next to a very small square of abstract art, then mission accomplished.
I saw this book on the new book shelf at the library and thought it would be interesting. OK, the text is interesting enough I suppose although totally Britishcentric. But it's supposed to be a map book and the maps look like thumbnails.
If the intention of the author was to have a couple of paragraphs of text next to a very small square of abstract art, then mission accomplished.
May 28, 2022
Great maps and a fun walk through UK perspective on the 20th century. I enjoyed this especially, especially seeing our HK map featured in 1958!
September 11, 2024
More a history of Britain than the world.
A series of interesting snippets rather than a coherent narrative of the century. Interesting though with a broad range of maps.
A series of interesting snippets rather than a coherent narrative of the century. Interesting though with a broad range of maps.
September 13, 2016
Mildly amusing book on maps in the 20th century.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews