Prisoners of Geography

The secret world history written in the mountains, rivers, and seas that shape every country’s politics, economy, and international relations—and our own lives—is revealed in this illustrated young readers edition of Prisoners of Geography, the million-copy international bestseller.

History is a story—and it’s impossible to tell the whole tale without understanding the setting. In this eye-opening illustrated edition of the international bestseller Prisoners of Geography, you’ll learn to spot connections between geography and world affairs in ways you never noticed before.
 

• •  How did the US’s rivers help it become a superpower?
• •  Why are harsh, cold and swampy Siberia and the Russian Far East two of that country’s most prized regions?
• •  How come Japan prefers to trade along the coasts instead of across its land?
• •  What do the Himalayas have to do with war?

With colorful maps that capture every continent and region, plus hundreds of illustrations that illuminate how our surroundings shape us, this one-of-a-kind atlas will inspire curious minds of all ages!

Numerous Nations

In the USA, one main language and culture spread very quickly, creating a single giant country. Europe, however, is split into many different countries—each with its own languages and cultures—that developed over thousands of years, shaped by the land’s natural barriers.

Review

•  Kansas NEA Reading Circle Junior Level 2021 (TOP PICK)
•  Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2019
•  Shortlisted for Children’s Travel Book of the Year, Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020

“Earth’s physical landscape has shaped human history, and it continues to influence geopolitics, as Tim Marshall shows in [this] large-form illustrated children’s version of his 2016 bestseller. . . .  For curious children ages 7-15, Prisoners of Geography has lots to fascinate.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Marshall’s fat Prisoners of Geography [has] been transformed into a dozen large infographic maps . . . designed to highlight the roles geophysical features, or the lack thereof, have played in shaping trade and politics.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Reading this book more than once would be a really good thing to do. There’s always more to learn!”—Kids’ BookBuzz

About the Author

Tim Marshall is a leading authority on foreign affairs with more than 30 years of reporting experience. He was diplomatic editor at Sky News, and before that he was working for the BBC and LBC/IRN radio. He has reported from 40 countries and covered conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Prisoners of Geography, The Power of Geography, The Age of Walls, and A Flag Worth Dying For. He is founder and editor of the current affairs site TheWhatandtheWhy.com.

Grace Easton is an author and illustrator who studied illustration at Central Saint Martins, Brighton University, and Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her debut picture book is Cannonball Coralie and the Lion. She’s currently based in St. Albans, England.

Jessica Smith is an illustrator and designer who studied at Falmouth University. Her work consists of pieces focused on simple shapes and bright colors where scale and perspective play a large role. She also runs gouache workshops and authored the crafting book Get Up & Gouache. She lives in a small town near Oxford, England.