The Sea Chart: the Illustrated History of Nautical Maps and Navigational Charts

by John Blake
Review by Tim Corke

The history of Great Britain has been governed by the sea and maritime exploration. Her explorers led the way in the science of navigation and continue to do so today through the worldwide production of Admiralty charts.

John Blake’s in-depth history of navigational charts and how Admiralty became the world leader in this field is fascinating, following the early pioneers who mapped harbours around the world for the purposes of conquest and trade.

The introduction shares early discoveries and advances in navigational history that, to a landlubber like me, provides a basic knowledge and a context for the rest of the book. Each chapter then focuses on a different part of the world, bringing together the challenges of how that particular coastline was documented.

The delivery of the content, balanced with beautiful illustrations of early charts, makes The Sea Chart a great addition to any seafarer’s nautical library.

Paperback book
Published by Conway Books
ISBN 9781844860630
Price: £16.99