Thoroughly documented, a worldwide selection of places representing many attempts made by mankind through the ages to re-create a paradise on Earth. "Paradises got off to a bad start early on. The one the Bible had arranged had to rapidly close its pearly gates when its first two occupants, Adam and Eve, had misbehaved." According to Gilles Lapouge, paradise is a paradoxical creation of our imagination, blending hope and nostalgia. Historically, mankind has sought to fashion a paradise, which could be accessed during its lifetime: ideal cities, cities made of glass and steel, castles of freedom, etc. This atlas embarks us upon a journey across civilizations, through the exploration of 27 real or fictional places, including • gardens of the Middle Ages • Atlantis • the castles of King Ludwig II • Oceana • Pitcairn Island • city of Manoa • Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang Each place is illustrated with a specially designed map in a graphic style that has become the hallmark of this Atlas series.