Reviews: The Rise and Fall of the National Atlas in the Twentieth Century

Summary

This review examines John Rennie Short's *The Rise and Fall of the National Atlas in the Twentieth Century*, a comprehensive survey of official national atlases published worldwide during the twentieth century. Short interprets these atlases as rhetorical expressions of state 'cartographic power,' employed to legitimize territorial claims, consolidate national identities, and administer physical and social landscapes. Through case studies of Finland, Poland, Canada, Brazil, and several African nations, the book demonstrates how atlases reflect national agendas, contribute to nation-building, and evolve alongside political ruptures. The concluding chapter anticipates a digital future for the genre, proposing a 'Polyphonic Participatory Atlas' that offers a more inclusive platform. The reviewer praises the work's interdisciplinary depth but notes the notable absence of discussion on atlases from France, the UK, and Germany, and calls for a more thorough examination of the century's cartographic technological transitions.