The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic

Media:	Paperback
Author:	Alberto Manguel
Publisher:	Harcourt
Release date:	02 November, 2000
List price:	~~$24.00~~
Our price:	$16.32 that is 32% off!

The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic

Average rating: Stars

You can't get there from here.

I first came upon this book during my studies of medieval travel literature in Oxford. It was a large, older, hard-bound edition, which gave the fantastic lands inside it almost a magical flavor. I knew then that I had to have a copy of my own.

Though only a reference book, this book should be read as anything but. Each entry is a small vacation from this planet, to a place often eerily similar. The destinations described are gathered from throughout the world of fiction and make-believe. This compendium contains all the "never-neverlands" and the land of "OZ" and "Xexotland", complete with illustrations, yet fails to mention small things such as Massachusetts.

The creators range from the medieval comic-grotesque to the latest political cynics of our day.

As amusement and as a literary reference, this book is worth it.

The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic - Alberto Manguel

More then I bargained for!

I bought this book because I was intriqued by the concept. A book that catalogs all of the places mentioned in other books. What I got completely amazed me. Not only were the places cataloged and indexed by book and by place, but the descriptions were long, even better they included maps.

The people who put together this book understood that the reason people would buy the book was not because they were looking for a one line definition but because they were looking for information about the places themselves. For example, for the definition of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it would have been easy to write a one line definition stating that this was the school that Harry Potter attended in the Harry Potter series. Instead the book has a definition several pages long including a drawing and also explains everything that has so far been written about the school including the moving staircases and the portraits on the walls. That is just the beginning thousands of places are included in the book, and all are given as much attention in their descriptions as the authors took to explain the locations in the original works of literature.

So enjoy this book, it will make you want to read about places to help you to figure out if you want to read the books that created them.

Alberto Manguel - The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic

An excellent reference book!!!!

I like the book.
I got the earlier edition(1980) and the recent update(2002).
However, the authors have missed some places. Back in
1996 I wrote to them suggesting these places. I got a
response unfortunalely none were added. :(
I hope when they do another update they will include the
following places of "Imaginary Places"...

"Hill Valley, California"
-From the "Back To The Future" movies-

"Toontown"
-A suberb of Los Angeles, California from the movie
"Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

"The Hundred Acre Woods"
-Where the famous Winnie The Pooh, his pal Piglet, Eeyore,
Tigger, Owl, Christopler Robin live. From A.A. Milne book series
of "Winnie The Pooh".

"Mayberry, North Carolina"
-Small town of 2000 where Sheriff Andy Taylor, Barney Fife,
Aunt Bea, Goober and Gomer Pyle live. From TV series "The
Andy Griffith Show" & "Gomer Pyle, USMC".

"Sweethaven"
-Small sea fishing town on New England area of U.S.A. Where

Popeye The Sailor, Olive Oyl, Whimpy, Bluto, ect. live. From
comic strip "Popeye" by E.G. Seegar.

"Gotham City"
-Large U.S. city where the crime fighter "Batman" resides.
From the comic book series of "Batman".

"Metropolis & Smallville"
-From the "Superman" comic book series.

"Hooterville"
-Small farming community from the television series of
"Green Acres" and "Petticoat Junction".

"Luft Stalag 13"
-A German prisoner of war camp outside of Hamburg, Germany.
Where Col. Wilhelm Klink, Col. Robert Hogan, Sargent Hans
Schultz was during WW2. From TV series "Hogan's Heroes".

"Island"
-Located about 200 miles south of Hawaii. Where crew & castaways
of the S.S. Minnow are shipwrecked. From "Gilligan's Island"
TV series.

"Halloweentown" & "Christmastown"
-From the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

To name a few which I hope will be added in an updated edition.

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