Hornsby’s latest book featured in National Geographic
“Picturing America: The Golden Age of Pictorial Maps,” the latest book by University of Maine geographer Stephen Hornsby was featured in the National Geographic article, “Geography isn’t sacred in the playful world of pictorial maps.” Pictorial maps thrived in the United States from the 1920s to the ’60s, according to Hornsby, director of the Canadian-American Center and professor of anthropology and Canadian studies at UMaine. “They’re a manifestation of the enormous vibrancy of American popular culture,” he said. Many of the maps featured in his book were made by companies and printed on posters or brochures as a form of advertising. Some are geographically accurate; others skew geography for the sake of simplicity or to make a point, the article states. “They are great fun,” Hornsby said. “They reflect a pride in community and the usual American cheerful optimism, which is very appealing.” Fine Books & Collections also published an article on the book.