Dear map librarians,
Forgive me from intruding on your debates but I wonder if someone might be
able to help me. I am managing editor of Brown Partworks, a
well-established book publisher and packager here in London. We've just
been commissioned by Thunder Bay Press in the US to produce a book on the
history of maps and I'm looking for possible authors. The book is likely to
include around 75 maps - arranged chronologically - each of which will be
accompanied by an illustrated description of what it actually shows and a
further illustrated spread discussing its importance in terms of mapmaking,
in terms of exploration, or in terms of human history. A spread on the
Catalan Atlas might be followed by one on Marco Polo's travels, for
example, or a map of 19th century India by the story of the Trigonometrical
Survey. The book is meant to be a general introduction to the history of
maps and will reflect the excitement and fascination of the subject and its
intimate link with humans' understanding of their world.
I wondered if anyone might fit the bill? The bill that needs to be fit is
for someone who can write lively but informed text not only about the maps
themselves but about these slightly more general historical subjects. It
will be a general rather than scholarly work and the schedule and payment
reflect this - the book is around 90,000 words long (we'll probably select
maps and plan the contents here, though input from the author will be
highly valuable at this stage) for which we'll make a one-off payment of
around GBP 10,500. It's not enough to retire on, granted, but I think that
for people who know the subject the writing should actually be quite rapid
and straightforward. Although the book can be written in self-contained
sections (and could potentially be a collaboration among a number of
authors), I'd need the first batch of text to be here by the end of January
and the final text by the end of February 2001 at the very latest.
If anyone might be interested, I wonder if you would mind getting in touch
as soon as possible. The schedule on the project makes things somewhat
urgent, of course. It would be much appreciated - the cartographic world is
something of a closed book to me.
Thanks for your time.
Best wishes
Tim Cooke
Managing editor
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Brown Partworks Ltd
8 Chapel Place, Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DQ
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7920 7500 Fax: +44 (0)20 7920 7501
http://www.brownpartworks.co.uk
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