- Visit the Photo Place

THIS IS MAPQUEST FOR AGES

A map of mystery sparks intrigue in "The Map Thief"

Date published: 9/7/2008

WORLD HISTORY as we know it may be marred by factual error. At least that's what budding writer Heather Terrell would have us believe. She makes a convincing argument in "The Map Thief," a rip-roaring read that fuses real history with mystery and spotlights the deceptive underbelly of the international art scene.

The novel starts off in early-1400s Beijing during the era of the Ming Dynasty. Admiral Zheng and his legion of adventurers embark on an unbelievable journey to chart the globe, amass riches and bring glory to their beloved empire. Assisting in this feat is the eunuch Ma Zhi, a gifted cartographer and navigator who creates the first real map of the world. In turn, he restores honor to his family's name and helps launch what's believed to be China's early discovery of the known world. But not everything works out as it should.

As the heroic explorers return to China, they find themselves in the throes of political turmoil. This results in the misappropriation of Zheng and Zhi's accomplishments. Flash forward to Lisbon, Portugal, in 1492. It's the height of the region's maritime domination and Vasco da Gama is on a quest to find the perfect sea route to India. Lucky for him, he has a navigator who just happens to own a map that already shows the way.

Back and forth we time travel between China, Portugal and present-day New York. Enter Mara Coyne, an art expert hired for her ability to recover and return stolen art to its rightful owners. She's tapped by an influential businessman to recover an artifact from a Chinese excavation dig. Mara quickly discovers she's searching for no ordinary artifact. It could be the rarest historical treasure in existence--an ancient map that could debunk world history and restore significance to a politically brittle country. As Mara treks the globe to uncover the truth, she learns that her client, like certain world history, may be filled with lies.

In this, her second novel, Terrell has us questioning the Age of Discovery, and it's easy to go along for the ride. In a richly detailed fashion, she weaves truth with fiction and paints a vivid picture of maritime mania before the days of Columbus. Her understanding of the Chinese culture is impeccable, and her knowledge of the art world more than adds weight to this powerful mystery. This is one exciting and informative read with which to end the summer.

Nicholas Addison Thomas is a freelance writer living in Fredericksburg.

THE MAP THIEF By Heather Terrell (Ballantine, $25)

Follow us on

Date published: 9/7/2008