Thom reviewed The mapmaker's eye by Jack Nisbet
Review of "The mapmaker's eye" on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Very interesting history of David Thompson, told primarily with excerpts and artwork from his journals as he charted the course of the Columbia river. Working for various British fur trading companies, the surveyor worked his way back and forth across the Rockies, exploring different routes and eventually reaching the Pacific.
While reading, I often found myself studying the maps, Thompson's and modern versions. The journal excerpts were fascinating, connecting tribes by language and describing the plants, animals, fish and birds he encountered. It is especially interesting that we don't know what all the plants correspond to.
The only thing that would make this fairly comprehensive book better would be representations of the large maps created by Thompson after retiring. Only one is publicly viewable, and images on the internet don't do it full justice.
This is the sixth book in my quest to read from my friend's "10 books that …
Very interesting history of David Thompson, told primarily with excerpts and artwork from his journals as he charted the course of the Columbia river. Working for various British fur trading companies, the surveyor worked his way back and forth across the Rockies, exploring different routes and eventually reaching the Pacific.
While reading, I often found myself studying the maps, Thompson's and modern versions. The journal excerpts were fascinating, connecting tribes by language and describing the plants, animals, fish and birds he encountered. It is especially interesting that we don't know what all the plants correspond to.
The only thing that would make this fairly comprehensive book better would be representations of the large maps created by Thompson after retiring. Only one is publicly viewable, and images on the internet don't do it full justice.
This is the sixth book in my quest to read from my friend's "10 books that influenced" lists. I tore through this one in a few days, and have to agree with Eric's assessment - this book leads you to ponder. Recommended!