The Story of the Baltic Sea — A Cartographic Journey through Times
The Story of the Baltic Sea — A Cartographic Journey through Times
Kustantaja: John Nurmisen Säätiö

The Story of the Baltic Sea — A Cartographic Journey through Times

COMING SOON
€39,90

The book is available for pre-order. Deliveries within Finland will begin on September 1, 2026. Our online store does not ship internationally. For overseas orders, please use Booky.fi

A king who became a pirate. A pirate who became a legend. Cousins battling for control of the Baltic Sea. Merchant sailors, pilgrims, and fishermen of the archipelago. A gas pipeline that linked East and West, yet divided the world. The first mapmakers, who told the story of the northern sea and its coasts through their maps.

The Story of the Baltic Sea is an exciting journey through time and a fascinating guide to the world of the Baltic, from the Middle Ages to the present day, seen through maps. In the book, the Baltic Sea emerges as a route whose waters have brought together lone adventurers and entire fleets alike. The book vividly recounts centuries of maritime interaction — knowledge, skills, and goods — that have shaped the lives and worldviews of the people living along the Baltic shores.

The work offers a carefully curated selection of historically significant maps alongside contemporary maps. It insightfully reveals how maps and the stories connected to them help us understand the many-sided world of the Baltic Sea, both past and present. At the same time, it shows how maps have not only conveyed information but also shaped perceptions of the Baltic and the people living on its coasts, from the Viking Age to the present day.

Beyond geography, old maps tell above all the history of seafaring, trade, and war, while also reflecting the histories of power politics, communication, and propaganda. The thematic maps created for the book's final chapter illustrate the Baltic Sea of the 2020s through current issues. In them, the Baltic appears as a rich underwater museum, a major corridor for energy transport, and an immeasurably valuable natural environment in need of protection.

Author

Marjo T. Nurminen is an internationally acclaimed nonfiction writer and recipient of the Finlandia Prize for nonfiction literature. In addition to her literary work, she has built a career as a science journalist, including at the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle. Nurminen has also explored the Baltic Sea beneath the surface as a research diver in underwater archaeology projects conducted by the Finnish Maritime Museum.

History, cartography, and cultural studies are among her favorite subjects, and in this book they intertwine into an engaging and educational whole.

Nurminen is also the author of the award-winning cartography-based nonfiction book The Mapmakers’ World, which received the Fordham Award.

Translations

The Story of the Baltic Sea has also been published in Finnish (Itämeren tarina) and Swedish (Östersjön på kartan). The Swedish edition is currently sold out in our online store, but it may still be available through well-stocked bookstores.

Baltic Sea Services

Olemme John Nurmisen Säätiön kokonaan omistama tytäryhtiö ja keskitymme säätiön kustantamien kirjojen ja kestävää saaristoelämää tukevien tuotteiden myymiseen.

Meren kertomuksia

John Nurmisen Säätiö kustantaa laadukkaita meriaiheisia tietokirjoja, jotka tutkivat meren merkitystä eri näkökulmista. Kertomukset vievät lukijan matkalle tuntemattomiin satamiin, löytöretkeilijöiden purjealuksille sekä syvälle aaltojen alle ihmettelemään meren monimuotoista elämää. Ne tuovat meren meitä jokaista lähemmäs.

Vastuullista välittämistä

Myymme valikoituja John Nurmisen Säätiön nimeä kantavia tuotteita, jotka viestivät Itämeren arvostuksesta ja konkreettisten suojelutekojen tärkeydestä. Tuotteet ovat kestäväksi suunniteltuja ja korvaavat kertakäyttökulttuuria. Suosimme yhteistyötuotteissa tunnettuja, vastuullisuutta ja Itämerta arvostavia brändejä.