The Book of Cities
by Philip Dodd, Ben Donald
Category: Travel

'The Book of Cities' is an inspirational gazetteer of 250 cities of all shapes, sizes and moods. Each city is presented in longitudinal order, so, like a contemporary Phileas Fogg, this round-the-world trip sets out from and returns to the Greenwich Meridian. Heading due west from London it visits the Americas and beyond. The book not only contains all the great metropolises, Paris, Rome, New York, Tokyo, but also those lesser known: Nuuk in Greenland, the smallest city in the world; Cordoba, an ancient city of trade and learning. There are cities at the end of the world, such as Anchorage in Alaska, and sites of pilgrimage, whether for sacred or sentimental reasons: Jerusalem or Memphis, Tennessee. Thought-provoking photographs portray the essence of every city. These are accompanied by lively, funky text that captures the vibe and soul of the place. Additional insights are provided by wise and wry quotes from residents and visitors. Useful data accompanies each entry, such as the longitude and latitude, altitude and population. This book may well inspire a first visit, refresh the memories of the well travelled, or simply fire the armchair imagination.