[Thematic Map] The Literary Map of Los Angeles.

Description

This unique 1987 pictorial literary map of Los Angeles, California, crafted by Linda Ayriss and Susan Lewis and issued by Aaron Blake Publishers, presents a delightful blend of cartography and cultural homage. It beautifully illustrates a simple grid highlighting the primary transportation routes connecting Malibu, Dana Point, and Hollywood. The map is enlivened with over 120 locations associated with sixty-five distinguished literary figures, each meticulously numbered and indexed at the bottom of the sheet.

At the top of the map, portraits of several prominent authors, including Ray Bradbury, Frank Baum, John Steinbeck, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, are depicted socializing in a scene reminiscent of a glamorous Hollywood party. These luminaries are shown dressed elegantly, enjoying cocktails amidst a backdrop of palm trees.

The heart of the map is a minimalist depiction of Los Angeles, resembling a pool, where each of the 122 locations is numerically identified. These numbers correspond to an index along the bottom border, listing significant sites related to the city’s most celebrated authors. The guests mingling around this metaphorical pool include a range of authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs (portrayed as Tarzan), Langston Hughes, Ayn Rand, Will Rogers, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

This map, one of several literary thematic maps produced by Aaron Blake Publishers, offers a charming and creative way to explore Los Angeles through the lens of its literary heritage, linking geography with the rich tapestry of its cultural history.