Mapping Boston (Hardcover)

by Alex Krieger (Editor), David Cobb (Editor), Norman B. Leventhal (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This is not merely a remarkable corpus of period maps--it is a historical atlas of the physical, cultural, and historical evolution of Boston from its beginnings to the present day. Editors Krieger (urban planning and design, Harvard Univ.) and Cobb (head of the Harvard Map Collection) have gathered together a critical mass of map curators, architects, urban historians, and historical archaeologists to explore this history; their informative essays accompany 270 maps, portraits, aerial photographs, and other illustrations. In addition to an excellent index, the book also boasts "A Boston Chronology" that refers to relevant plates. An unusual and handsome resource, this book is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries--particularly those with emphases on cartography, Colonial America, or New England history collections. For a preview of the maps and the publication itself, visit (www.mappingboston.com).
-Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Sys., Ft. Pierce, FL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"What a marvelous and immensely welcome book! The collection of maps is surpassing, and to have them so beautifully published in combination with such superb essays is cause for celebration for everyone who loves Boston and loves history. Mapping Boston is a perfect treasure."
—David McCullough

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 292 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press; 1 edition (September 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262112442
• ISBN-13: 978-0262112444
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 11.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #910,107 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read, look, enjoy, June 12, 2000

By	"binyamin" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

It has rarely been my experience that a picture is worth a thousand words -- the best pictures often elicit no words at all. Maps, however, are different -- these, when well done, I would gladly substitute for the best prose. And those in Mapping Boston are absolutely superb, giving greater clarity to a wide range of topics than words ever could.

Boston, of all cities, must give historical cartographers fits -- the city's boundaries have changed so greatly over time as to render historical comparison a great challenge. But Mapping Boston succeeds wonderfully in helping the reader to understand the city's gradual evolution from peninsula to metropolis. The growth of the city, the changes in population and land utilization, Boston's shifting ethnic and economic face are all elucidated colorfully and clearly. The bottom line is that the lover of Boston history will revel in this volume; indeed, I expect most every resident of the area will derive considerable pleasure from it.

For those who do, I would also recommend Diana Muir's Reflections in Bullough's Pond, which does for the region around Boston what Mapping Boston does for the city itself: places it in context, gives it color, brings it to life.

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure!, October 1, 1999

By	Steven M. Stansel (Newburyport, MA) - See all my reviews

This book is simply gorgeous in design and exceptional in content. I can recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone interested in the history of Boston or in the evolution of maps of North America.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have!, May 6, 2000

By	Damon (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This book beautifully portray's Boston's physical past, present and future through maps and photographs. The book does an excellent job showing how streets and shorelines through the years match to the present topography (a huge interest of mine when exploring the city). This book is for you if you love history and maps of Boston and New England. VERY WELL DONE!