The Library of Lost Maps

In The Library of Lost Maps, James Cheshire takes readers on a fascinating journey through a long-forgotten collection of thousands of maps and atlases housed in a hidden map library at UCL. The book explores how these maps, spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, were used for war, peace negotiations, scientific discovery, and political power.

It reveals the vital role maps have played in shaping scientific knowledge such as plate tectonics and climate change, as well as their influence on political reforms and conquests.

The book is richly illustrated with four-color reproductions and uncovers the stories behind maps that have faded from public memory, highlighting their enduring power to shape our understanding of the world.