Wednesday, January 14, 2009

I Want One: Atlas of True Names

A husband and wife team of German cartographers has just released the English version of their Atlas of True Names — a pair of maps that translates the etymological roots of placenames into plain English, transforming the familiar landscape of the upper Midwest into a Tolkeinesque realm where one could travel from Mudwater (Winnipeg) to the Land of the South Wind People (Iowa) by way of Father-of-Waters (the Mississippi). The British Isles fare even better, where one can travel from Hillfort (London) to the Land of the Wanderers (Scotland) where one finds the Isles of Sea Monsters (the Orkneys) and Beyond the North (the Outer Hebrides).

This is just so me, you know? Which is why I'm buying it.

3 comments:

Elephantschild said...

Very cool. I'm sure glad I don't live in "Stink Onion."

St. Heraldwolf's Stone sounds wonderful (especially this time of year) but we went to Remote Corner where Rough Grass Grows for vacation last summer and it was a bore.

Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake said...

What? I would have thought Remote Corner Where Rough Grass Grows would be a prime vacation destination.

Elephantschild said...

It's a tad too far into "North Land of the Home Ruler." The cold breeze blowing from the Gulf of St. Laurel keeps you off those beautiful beaches.

Next year in St. Loudfight?