Description: Alexander Akin examines how the expansion of publishing in the late Ming dynasty prompted changes in the nature and circulation of cartographic materials in East Asia.
Brief description: Alexander Akin (Harvard University, 2009) has published a number of articles on East Asian maps and edited the English translation of The Artistry of Early Korean Cartography (Tamal Vista Publications, 2008). He co-owns Bolerium Books in San Francisco.
Review Quotes: ''...Akin's monograph is a notable achievement, bridging a specialized technical area with broader concerns of textuality in early modern East Asia. It brings to light little-known texts and images, uncovering the logic of their arguments and the mean ings they had for contemporary audiences. The writing is lucid and the book should attract an audience well beyond East Asian studies, particularly among those interested in the study of comparative historical cartography and print cultures.''
- Nathan Vedal, Journal of Chinese History (2024), 1-4