Views of a Nation - Launch event for The Times Atlas of Britain

Talk by Mike Parker and Mick Ashworth
Tuesday 28th September 2010, 6pm
National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

Mike Parker (author of Map Addict) and Mick Ashworth (consultant editor to Times Atlases) will be revealing the history behind national atlases, explaining what they are and looking at the latest version to be published. The talk celebrates the publication of the first national atlas of Britain since 1963 – “The Times Atlas of Britain”

Illustrated by archive material from the National Library of Scotland’s (NLS) map collection some early examples of national atlases will be discussed. What defines a national atlas and exceptional examples from around the world will be shown. The latest Times Atlas of Britain will also be described along with insights into how it was put together and sample historical mapping.

The talk will be followed by drinks and a chance to meet the makers of The Times Atlas of Britain.

See NLS Events for September and book online using the Event booking form.

Over 40 people have booked already, so reserve your place soon!

Mike Parker
Mike Parker has had a varied career, which at one point saw him working as a stand-up comedian. He has been widely published and also presents various travel programmes for radio and television. His books to date include Map Addict and the Rough Guide to Wales as well as several other guide books. He writes freelance travel pieces for most of the UK papers, including the Independent, the Independent on Sunday, the Guardian, the Sunday Times and the Mirror.

Mick Ashworth
Mick has worked in cartography for twenty-five years and is Consultant Editor to Times Atlases. He is director of Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd, a company he and his wife Jennifer set up in 2008. Prior to this he was Editor in Chief for World and European cartography at HarperCollins Publishers in Glasgow. Before moving to HarperCollins he worked for what is now the Defence Geographic Centre at the Ministry of Defence, which included three years based in Hong Kong. He is a Past-President of the British Cartographic Society and current Council member, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Further details:
The Times Atlas of Britain
The Times Atlas of Britain Brochure