Peter Barber is Head of Map Collections at the British Library. His many books include The Map Book (2005) and (with Tom Harper) Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art (British Library, 2010).
The entire volume exceeds the author's expressed aspirations to present an honest and inclusive representation of London. I particularly appreciated the author's perspectives on the history of mapping, which includes analysis and documentation of the highly selective nature of maps and mapping throughout history. The analysis of the motives of cartographers and publishers in particular is outstanding, being something few other books of this type include and a worthwhile addition to any publication discussing the history of cartography. --Patti Day, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Cartographic Perspectives