The Self-Made Map

This book examines the interplay between literature and cartography in Renaissance France, revealing how mapping influenced identity and cultural awareness during that time.

In The Self-Made Map, Tom Conley explores the intricate relationship between literature, identity, and cartography during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in France. He argues that this period saw a 'new cartographic impulse' that significantly influenced both literary forms and the emerging sense of self. As new maps were created, individuals began to define themselves in relation to the spaces around them, leading to a profound transformation in personal and cultural identity.

Conley traces the surge of interest in mapmaking that coincided with the discovery of the New World, highlighting its impact on what he terms 'cartographic writing.' This form of writing, he explains, is characterized by its ability to 'hold, penetrate, delineate, and explore space.' By examining the works of influential writers like Rabelais, Montaigne, and Descartes, he navigates through the printed pages of Renaissance France, revealing how spatial organization and text interact in playful and sometimes enigmatic ways.

Additionally, the book delves into the ideological dimensions of mapmaking, asserting that Renaissance cartography is deeply intertwined with the political climate of the time. Through close readings of maps and illustrations, Conley emphasizes the importance of understanding these artifacts within their typographic and literary contexts. Richly illustrated, The Self-Made Map weaves together art, geography, history, and literature to illuminate the broader cultural transformations of the era, linking geographical discoveries with the evolution of national and individual identities.