"[A] fascinating tale.[Brook] weaves a wonderful tale of the interaction of peoples of a different age in lands where sovereignty was barely a concept." -- Economist A finely woven story, situating the map''s production and use at the intersection of Chinese enterprise and European curiosity. [Brook] is especially fascinated with the fusion of technical skills necessary to make a map at the juncture of these worlds. His account is . a gracefully rendered and highly personal early modern itinerary occasioned by an unusual Chinese map whose features form around not an imperial dynasty but a thriving oceanic culture. Brook takes us into these unsettled waters, with the benefit of long experience of this region of the world. Migrating through many different hands, the Selden map becomes our portolan, guiding us wherever we need to go .
An enjoyable and elegant micro-history. -- The Nation "The definitive study of the singular Selden Map.The scholar will appreciate the level of detail, breadth of analysis, and ingenuity in Brook''s ability to expound such a wealth of history from a single document." -- Publishers Weekly "A work of exuberant scholarship.An infectious, satisfying exercise in intellectual doggedness." -- Kirkus "An engagingly written, insightful look into just how fluid perceptions and realities have been in both the past and the present." -- Booklist " Mr. Selden''s Map of China charts a fascinating course.
A platter of diversions and fascinations made by someone with a deep knowledge of East Asia in the 1600s." -- Seattle Times "Spellbinding." -- The Times (UK) on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important . Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." -- San Francisco Chronicle on VERMEER''S HAT "A fascinating approach to cultural history, providing new ways of thinking about the origins of commonplace objects." --Entertainment Weekly on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important . Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HAT look into just how fluid perceptions and realities have been in both the past and the present.
" -- Booklist " Mr. Selden''s Map of China charts a fascinating course.A platter of diversions and fascinations made by someone with a deep knowledge of East Asia in the 1600s." -- Seattle Times "Spellbinding." -- The Times (UK) on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important . Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." -- San Francisco Chronicle on VERMEER''S HAT "A fascinating approach to cultural history, providing new ways of thinking about the origins of commonplace objects." --Entertainment Weekly on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important .
Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATng; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATlook into just how fluid perceptions and realities have been in both the past and the present." -- Booklist " Mr. Selden''s Map of China charts a fascinating course.A platter of diversions and fascinations made by someone with a deep knowledge of East Asia in the 1600s." -- Seattle Times "Spellbinding." -- The Times (UK) on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important .
Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." -- San Francisco Chronicle on VERMEER''S HAT "A fascinating approach to cultural history, providing new ways of thinking about the origins of commonplace objects." --Entertainment Weekly on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important . Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATlook into just how fluid perceptions and realities have been in both the past and the present." -- Booklist " Mr. Selden''s Map of China charts a fascinating course.A platter of diversions and fascinations made by someone with a deep knowledge of East Asia in the 1600s.
" -- Seattle Times "Spellbinding." -- The Times (UK) on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important . Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." -- San Francisco Chronicle on VERMEER''S HAT "A fascinating approach to cultural history, providing new ways of thinking about the origins of commonplace objects." --Entertainment Weekly on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important . Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATng; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATng; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence.
" --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATlook into just how fluid perceptions and realities have been in both the past and the present." -- Booklist " Mr. Selden''s Map of China charts a fascinating course.A platter of diversions and fascinations made by someone with a deep knowledge of East Asia in the 1600s." -- Seattle Times "Spellbinding." -- The Times (UK) on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important . Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." -- San Francisco Chronicle on VERMEER''S HAT "A fascinating approach to cultural history, providing new ways of thinking about the origins of commonplace objects.
" --Entertainment Weekly on VERMEER''S HAT "Elegant and quietly important . Brook does more than merely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATng; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATerely sketch the beginnings of globalization and highlight the forces that brought our modern world into being; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HATng; rather, he offers a timely reminder of humanity''s interdependence." --Seattle Times on VERMEER''S HAT.