Phantom Islands by Dirk Liesemer

From the famed Atlantis to the little-known Rupes Nigra, fantastical islands have long held our fascination. Isolated from ordinary life, they lurk, full of mystery, in unexplored corners of the globe and in far-off seas. At times, however, our fascination has bled into reality, as our willingness to see what isn’t really there has shown fictional islands appear on maps and charts, with travelogues telling tales of their inhabitants, their natural wonders, or their treasure.

Phantom Islands tells the story of 30 such islands. Beginning with their alleged discovery, Dirk Liesemer recreates their fabled landscapes, the voyages attempted to verify their existence and, ultimately, the moments when that existence was at last disproved. Spanning oceans and centuries, these curious tales are a chronicle of the human lust for discovery and wealth.

Beautifully illustrated with coloured maps and charts, Phantom Islands shows the cunning of imposters and frauds, the earnestness of explorers searching for knowledge, and the pleasure that can be found in our willingness to deceive and to be deceived.