Britain and Northern Ireland in Maps: A Review

Summary

This paper is an academic review of the atlas "Britain and Northern Ireland in Maps." Compiled over ten years by the Clarendon Press and an editorial committee of Oxford and Cambridge scholars, the atlas represents a milestone in British cartography. Covering 200 pages of maps, it encompasses a wide range of topics including physical geography, agriculture, industry, population, and transportation. The reviewer acknowledges its rich content, excellent cartographic standards, and original conceptions, while also noting certain shortcomings such as overcrowded maps, somewhat redundant regional maps, and a lack of dynamic change. The review further explores the fundamental nature and purpose of a national atlas, concluding that despite philosophical debates, the atlas is a superior production of significant reference value to all geographers.