London: A History in Maps

Peter Barber is Head of Map Collections at the British Library. His many books include The Map Book (2005) and (with Tom Harper) Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art (British Library, 2010).

"[E]ndlessly absorbing. . . . [A] skillful balance between the city's shape-shifting actuality and the various fantasies, cherished by everybody from Christopher Wren to the Luftwaffe, of what the place, with a few crucial tweaks, might become."-- "Times Literary Supplement" "Creatively designed and copiously illustrated, this beautiful and informative coffee table publication replicates an exhibition that was displayed at the British Library from November 2006 to March 2007. . . . This handsome publication will be a delightful and useful resource for a variety of audiences, including the general public; map collectors and bibliophiles; local and urban historians; and scholars interested in historical geography, urban geography and planning, and the history of cartography."--Ronald E. Grim, Boston Public Library "AAG Review of Books" "Highly recommended."--W. S. Rodner, Tidewater Community College "Choice" "The entire volume exceeds the author's expressed aspirations to present an honest and inclusive representation of London. I particularly appreciated the author's perspectives on the history of mapping, which includes analysis and documentation of the highly selective nature of maps and mapping throughout history. The analysis of the motives of cartographers and publishers in particular is outstanding, being something few other books of this type include and a worthwhile addition to any publication discussing the history of cartography."--Patti Day, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee "Cartographic Perspectives" "With each page, we witness London's horizontal and vertical expansion. The collected work of London's cartographers shows urban mass as a living entity, pushing forever outward. In its entirety, Mr. Barber's book captures this energy and sense of organic growth. . . . This is a coffee table book that deserves to be read and studied. . . . [A] beautiful and engaging book."--Darren Richard Carlaw "New York Journal of Books"