A Mapmaker's Dream

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A Mapmaker's Dream
Author James Cowan
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction
Publisher Shambhala Publications
Publication date
1996
Media typePrint
Pages151 pp.
Awards ALS Gold Medal winner 1998
ISBN 1570621969
Preceded byThe Deposition 
Followed byThe Painted Shore 

A Mapmaker's Dream (1996) is a novel by Australian writer James Cowan. It was originally published by Shambhala Publications in USA in 1996. [1]

Contents

The novel is subtitled: "The Meditations Of Fra Mauro, Cartographer To The Court Of Venice". [1]

Synopsis

The 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

After its initial publication in USA by Shambhala Publications in 1996, [2] the novel was reprinted as follows:

The novel was also translated into German in 1997, [4] and Italian in 1999. [5]

Critical reception

Sally 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

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fra Mauro</span> Venetian cartographer (1400–1464)

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The Australian Literature Society Gold Medal is awarded annually by the Association for the Study of Australian Literature for "an outstanding literary work in the preceding calendar year." From 1928 to 1974 it was awarded by the Australian Literature Society, then from 1983 by the Association for the Study of Australian Literature, when the two organisations were merged.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Austlit — A Mapmaker's Dream by James Cowan (Shambhala Publications) 1996". Austlit. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  2. ↑ "A Mapmaker's Dream (Shambhala 1996)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  3. ↑ "A Mapmaker's Dream (Vintage 1997)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  4. ↑ "A Mapmaker's Dream (Albrecht Knaus 1997)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  5. ↑ "A Mapmaker's Dream (Rizzoli 1999)". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  6. ↑ ""Off the Shelf"". The Australian Jewish News, 9 May 1997, p31. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "ALS Gold Medal — Previous Winners". Association for the Study of Australian Literature. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
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