Great Railway Maps of the World

Description

From Mark Ovenden, the author of London Underground by Design and Metro Maps of the World, comes Great Railway Maps of the World, a beautifully illustrated, comprehensive history of the greatest railway maps, and the story behind them. The history of the railway is the history of Britain - and France, and America, and Japan, and Russia, among many others. Featuring hundreds of images, covering two centuries of advertising, surveyors' maps, route guides, travel posters, photos, and Google Earth maps, this is a book brimming with history, data and anecdotes. It is a must-have guide for every train fanatic, armchair or ticketed, as well as lovers of graphic design, history and the romance of railway travel. 'The romance of the overground railway pours from the edges of many of the images in Great Railway Maps...Few other subjects can envelop such a heady mixture of design, history, geography and - more often than not - usefulness. It's well worth alighting on' - Will Dean, Independent 'Just the ticket...it is a glorious celebration of the pioneering history - and romance - of the railways' - Sunday Times Travel Books of the Year 2011 'If you love railways or know someone who does...this is the book for you' - Robert Elms, BBC London Mark Ovenden is a British writer and broadcaster. At the age of seven, he travelled alone ten miles on the London Underground, armed only with a map. He later gained entry to a Graphic Design course by submitting a reworking of the London tube map. His previous books are Metro Maps of the World, Paris Metro Style and London Underground by Design. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and lives in Paris, France.

Mark Ovenden is a British writer and broadcaster. At the age of seven, he travelled alone ten miles on the London Underground, armed only with a map. He later gained entry to a Graphic Design course by submitting a reworking of the London tube map. His previous books are Great Railway Maps of the World, Metro Maps of the World, Paris Metro Style and London Underground by Design. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.

A handsome, richly illustrated book that is a loving homage to railways and the art of mapmaking * Chicago Tribune * Ovenden has returned with a sophomore rail maps effort...[that] raises goosebumps...and recaptures the amazing spirit of expedition first made possible by the railroads -- Rich Sampson * Rail Magazine * With a striking collection of hundreds of above ground rail maps, Railway Maps of the World...is the first book to show modern day railway networks from every country * BBC America * Informative and interesting * Time Out * Beautiful and well-presented...An excellent book, worth every penny of its purchase price * Railways Illustrated - Nov 2011 Product of the Month * At first, you wonder what a book of railway maps could possibly do for you. Then you open this book. It has a mesmeric quality. -- William Leith * Evening Standard * This will appeal to anyone who loves design, maps and railways. Every page is packed beautiful imagery -- Steve Allen, LBC 97.3 FM Great Railway Maps of the World is a mesmerising and thought-provoking book...You don't have to be nutty about railways to revel in it, you simply have to appreciate good design, in which the demands of conveying information and stimulating desire contend...We travel, here, not only in space, and time, but into and out of ourselves -- Nicholas Lezard * Guardian * If you love railways or know someone who does...this is the book for you -- Robert Elms, BBC London This is a terrific coffee table book. It's a work of art in itself. Mark Ovenden has created a book that will transport the lucky recipient on an eccentric and world tour they will not forget * The Bookseller * On a lighter note, I also hugely enjoyed poring over Mark Ovenden's Great Railway Maps of the World, beautifully produced and illustrated with posters and photographs as well as original maps dating back almost to the beginnings of the railway age in the 19th century -- Richard J. Evans * New Statesman Books of the Year 2011 * Just the ticket...it is a glorious celebration of the pioneering history - and romance - of the railways * Sunday Times Travel Books of the Year 2011 * The romance of the overground railway pours from the edges of many of the images in Great Railway Maps...Few other subjects can envelop such a heady mixture of design, history, geography and - more often than not - usefulness. It's well worth alighting on -- Will Dean * Independent *