Thomas Reinertsen Berg

Theatre of the World

Verdensteater. Kartenes historie

What is a map? How have people been drawing the world up through history? What do maps say about us?

Theatre of the world. The history of maps is a unique book with the full and incredible history of maps. Thomas Reinertsen Berg takes us all the way from the mysterious symbols of the Stone Age to Google Earth in a fascinating tale on science and the view of the world, about art and technology, about power and ambitions, about practical needs and distant dreams of the unknown.

Along the way, we encounter visionary geographers and heroic explorers along with the unknown heroes of the history of maps. A fantastic visual material allows us to immerse ourselves in the history of maps with our own eyes.

Winner of the 2017 Brage Prize for best non-fiction book in Norway

Berg verdensteater web

“The detailed book is a pleasure to read. It makes complicated things easy to understand.”

Dagbladet, 5 out of 6 stars

“(…) a tour de force with the history of the maps. (…) systematically, well written, fun and educational. (…) An exquisite and distinctive nonfiction book.”

The Jury of Brageprisen 2017

“(…) the book is thorough, original, well written and simply beautiful.”

Erika Fatland, Aftenposten
Berg, thomas reinertsen photo fredrik arff
Photo: Fredrik Arff

Thomas Reinertsen Berg (b. 1971) is a journalist and writer. He has written for several Norwegian papers such as Morgenbladet, Klassekampen and Dagsavisen, where he has worked especially with cultural and scientific subjects.

Berg has always had a keen interest in maps, and decided to write the book on the history of maps that he has always wanted to read himself.

Thomas Reinertsen Berg is one of the participants chosen for NORLA’s development programme for new literary talents “New Voices”, a part of the project of Norway as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2019.