The Lie of the Land: The Secret Life of Maps

Can you always believe what you see on a map? Is a map always a true reflection of the ground beneath our feet? Lie of the Land invites the reader to take a closer look at maps, and to discover that there is often more to a map than meets the eye. For example: the secret 1926 map of London which illustrates the government's fear of a revolution during the General Strike; and the 1695 map of Paradise, which attempted to reconcile science and religion by locating the position of Noah's Ark, or where Jonah met the whale. These maps and many more are discussed in this highly illustrated book, which takes an innovative approach to this fascinating subject.

• Drawing the Line – maps used for administrative, social, and military purposes. For example the 'Red-lined' map of North America which was originally produced by the British in 1755, and later used during negotiations following the American War of Independence; and an ethnic map of Slovakia where official Czechoslovak population statistics were used to aid anti-Semitic legislation.
• Whose World is it Anyway? – Maps which reflect particular views of the world, of individuals, societies, nations, and religious groups. For example: prisoners' maps printed in secret in 1944, and a 1644 Chinese world map in which China is not only the centre of the world, but takes up 95% of the surface area.
• Spinning the World – maps which are devised with the specific intent to deceive or tell a particular version of the truth. For instance a map of the British Empire which centred 40 degrees west of Greenwich, so Australia was depicted twice, at each side of the map, which made the Empire look larger than it actually was.
• Take a Closer Look – maps intended for a very select audience. For example McDonald Gill's 1914 Wonderground Map of London is completely impractical as a way of finding your way around London, but the lack of functionality is of no consequence when set against the countless incidental details of the city's less obvious attractions.

Peter Barber is Map Librarian at The British Library. April Carlucci is head of map research and cataloguing at The British Library.