Atlas of Literary Maps Illustrates the Imaginary Worlds of Beloved Works of Fiction

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A map drawn by Roland Chambers for “The Magicians” by Lev Grossman
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To many bibliophiles, there is nothing better than getting lost in a good book. However, as many adventure-loving authors know, having a map to guide you through your text-based travels can make reading even more rewarding. Though these literary maps are often tucked behind book covers, historian Huw Lewis-Jones has placed them at the forefront with The Writer's Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands.

The Writer's Map allows readers to tour worlds created by some of literature's greatest storytellers. The beautiful book features a full-color collection of magical maps imagined by a range of authors, from classic novelist Rudyard Kipling to contemporary children's author Abi Elphinstone. When compiled together, these maps compose “a curious, creative gathering” any explorer is bound to enjoy.

Putting together this treasury has been a passion project for Lewis-Jones, whose experience includes both academia and working as an expedition guide. With The Writer's Map, he is able to share the best of both worlds, offering a book that is thoughtfully “filled with insights and favorites, and some surprises too, I hope.”

To start your page-turning journey, pick up a copy of The Writer's Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands on Amazon.

Historian Huw Lewis-Jones has compiled a collection of literary maps into The Writer's Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A map by Munro Orr for a 1934 edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's “Treasure Island”

This whimsical book features an eclectic range of cartographical examples, ranging from detailed drawings…

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A map made by Rudyard Kipling for “The Beginning of Armadillos”

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A map made by Rudyard Kipling for “The Beginning of Armadillos” (detail)

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A map made by Rudyard Kipling for “The Beginning of Armadillos” (detail)

…To simplified sketches.

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A sketch by Abi Elphinstone for “The Night Spinner”

Explore a selection of these maps from books below.

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

New Switzerland from “The Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A map of Verdopolis from “The History of the Young Men: From Their First Settlement to the Present Time” by Branwell Brontë

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A sketch by Abi Elphinstone

The Writer's Map Literary Maps from Books Huw Lewis-Jones

A map for “Walden; or Life, in the Woods” by Henry David Thoreau

Huw Lewis-Jones: Website | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Huw Lewis-Jones and The University of Chicago Press.

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Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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