A Mapmaker’s Dream: The Meditations of Fra Mauro, Cartographer to the Court of Venice (1996) is a novel by Australian writer James Cowan. It was originally published by Shambhala Publications in USA in 1996.[1]
 | |
| Author | James Cowan |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Shambhala Publications |
Publication date | 1996 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 151 pp. |
| Awards | ALS Gold Medal winner 1998 |
| ISBN | 1570621969 |
| Preceded by | The Deposition |
| Followed by | The Painted Shore |
The novel is subtitled: "The Meditations Of Fra Mauro, Cartographer To The Court Of Venice".[1]
Synopsis
editThe novel is based on the journals of the 15th-century monk Fra Mauro, who created a detailed map of the world, known as the Fra Mauro map.
Publishing history
editAfter its initial publication in USA by Shambhala Publications in 1996,[2] the novel was reprinted as follows:
- Vintage Books, Australia, 1997[3]
- Hodder & Stoughton, UK, 1997[1]
- Warner Books, USA, 1997[1]
- Sceptre, UK, 1998[1]
The novel was also translated into German in 1997,[4] and Italian in 1999.[5]
Critical reception
editSally James, writing in The Australian Jewish News Noted: "Throughout A Mapmaker’s Dream, which reads like a diary, Mauro reveals that his mission was not so much to depict where people had travelled to but who they were and what they thought. A type of exploration not yet known to the ‘civilised’ world...Mauro offers a highly interpretative account of the many travellers who approach him. Consistent mention is made of the inadequacy he felt being an observer, not a participator. Believing himself to be at the mercy of other men's observations, Mauro remained at the monastery, lacking the courage to leave and see the origins of the tales that captivated him."[6]
Awards
edit- ALS Gold Medal winner 1998[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "Austlit — A Mapmaker's Dream by James Cowan (Shambhala Publications) 1996". Austlit. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "A Mapmaker's Dream (Shambhala 1996)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "A Mapmaker's Dream (Vintage 1997)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "A Mapmaker's Dream (Albrecht Knaus 1997)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "A Mapmaker's Dream (Rizzoli 1999)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ ""Off the Shelf"". Australian Jewish News. The Australian Jewish News, 9 May 1997, p31. 9 May 1997. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "ALS Gold Medal — Previous Winners". Association for the Study of Australian Literature. Retrieved 29 February 2024.