A unique book that follows the narrative of the history of tourism, including some of the finest examples of cartography, has been released today. The Map Tour is an exquisite collection of maps that trace the evolution of tourism from the 17th century, through to the Grand Tour, up to the present day.
The book’s author Hugh Thomson, who has spoken at the Society and was the 2014 Wainwright prize-winner for nature and travel writing, drew on our unique and extensive map collection to support the book. Readers will be transported to the golden age of travel and are encouraged to consider why tourism has continually captivated us through the ages.
Accompanied by diary accounts, contemporary travel advertisements and photography, the book gives readers a distinct feeling of what it would have been like to be a tourist in the 1600s, right the way through to the present day. It explores how people used maps to navigate and understand the world and reflects on how accessible the world has become as global tourism goes on to flourish.
If you’d like to purchase a copy of The Map Tour, please visit Carlton Books.
To enjoy a 20% discount and free postage, please use the discount code RGSMapTour at checkout.