Mr. Beck's Underground Map
RRP £12.95
Paperback, 80 pages
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Reviews
(Rated 5 out of 5)
As someone with absolutely no interest in maps , graphic design or the London Underground i shouldn't care a jot about this book or who the heck Harry Beck was . WRONG ! I picked it up while browsing in a bookshop and was instantly enthralled and plunged into Harry's world (and indeed obsession ) . It really is a marvelous and fascinating read and i was hooked from beginning to end ( you end up caring about trivial , tiny alterations to the design ! ). If you had told me 3 days ago i would care about diagonal or vertical lines for a railway map i'd have laughed in your face , what a tribute to the author of this book and HC Beck that i loved it from start to finish .
(Rated 5 out of 5)
The definitive book on Harry Beck's classic diagram. Lovely hardback large format book 11" X 10" (reprinted edition 2003) with 80 pages ; 40 of which contain beautifully illustrated colour diagrams (many full page size) of the various maps issued from 1908-1964 but mainly about Beck's diagrams from his original sketch in 1931 until his last diagram in 1964. It charts the many alterations to the original design and contains a wonderfull apppendix that has over 10 pages of original experimental sketches. An excellently researched and thoroughly enjoyable book by Ken Garland.
(Rated 5 out of 5)
How does a simple diagram become a design icon? This short, profusely-illustrated and well-written book shows how Beck's Diagram evolved from earlier more geographically-correct maps of the Underground system through a myriad of variations into the forms we're still familiar with today. The Diagram is constantly changing although instantly familiar to any visitor to London - so as well as the fascination of the evolution of the style of the diagram there's also the ever-changing history of the Underground itself to consider.
(Rated 5 out of 5)
This book is great if you are a fan of the London underground or the maps. The book covers the maps over the years, starting at the beginning of the century all the way to the present day. You can see the differences between how they started and how they ended. I think it is absolutely fascinating!
(Rated 5 out of 5)
Bewarned, It is a very singular topic, but I found this account of the development of the London Underground Diagram Fascinating.