“All my books have been based on narrative. “Even if I’d done a big piece I was really happy with, I often felt that I hadn’t the time or space to get to the bottom of things.” Though he now has the luxury of writing at greater length, Garfield’s instinct for a good story remains. But with his journalism, he always felt there was more to say. Taking a subject and running with it is something that Garfield has been doing since his time as a feature writer for the Observer and Independent.
“He said, why don’t you do a book on maps? And I thought, fantastic, because I just knew it was right.” But actually the idea originated with Bill Shinker at Gotham Books, Garfield’s US publisher. Given his early enthusiasm for maps, it feels only natural that he should have turned to the subject for his latest book: On the Map (Profile). He has written books on AIDS, the colour mauve, Radio 1, wrestling, the early days of railways, the Mass Observation project and, of course, typefaces. Garfield is just my type of non-fiction writer the kind where you never know quite what subject they are going to alight on next. I saw it every day when I went to school and my interest grew from there.” “The first map I remember using was the London Underground map. Not those of the familiar Harry Beck “circuit” design, but the schemes which came before it, and which he lovingly collects.
In the tradition of William Morris’ advice to “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”, Simon Garfield’s London hallway is lined with Tube maps.
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