The Map Colorist: A Novel

by Rebecca D’Harlingue

In 1660, Amsterdam is the trading and map-printing capital of the world. Anneke van Brug is one of the colorists paid to enhance black-and-white maps for a growing number of collectors. Her artistic talent brings her to the attention of the Blaeu printing house, and she begins to color for a rich merchant, Willem de Groot. But Anneke is not content to simply embellish the work of others; she longs to create maps of her own. Cartography, however, is the domain of men—so it is in secret that she borrows the notes her father made on a trip to Africa in 1642 and sets about designing a new map.

Anneke hopes to convince the charismatic de Groot to use his influence to persuade Blaeu to include her map in the Atlas Maior , which will be the largest and most expensive publication of the century. But family secrets, infidelity, and murder endanger her dream. Will her map withstand these threats, or will it be forever lost?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Book Club, Womens, Art

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 19, 2023

About the author

Rebecca D’Harlingue has studied Spanish literature, worked as a hospital administrator, and taught English as a Second Language to adults form all over the world. The discovery of family papers prompted her to explore the repercussions of family secrets, and of the ways we attempt to reveal ourselves.

Her novels, The Lines Between Us, and The Map Colorist, both set in the seventeenth century, have won various awards for New Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Literary Fiction.

Reviews

[Dana K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The van Brug family is a group of creative, ambitious people. Anneke is our view of this family, she is inspired by her father's stories of Africa and her mother's work as a map colorist. When her older brother is offered lessons in map making, she tags along, between those lessons and her mother's - she is quickly the most talented of them all. In the 1660 Netherlands, a young girl is not expected to have such a career. Her mother manages to get her an apprentice-like position helping to color maps which allows her to quickly shine. When she is offered the opportunity to work in the home of a rich map collector, she is excited but dreams of making the most of this opportunity in ways that will have a ripple effect on her whole family.

This was so much more than your typical historical fiction novel. Yes, we get a more feminist view on a male dominated career and time period, but we also get a good bit of action and mystery. I loved the family aspect of this novel, I loved seeing them both pull together and challenge one another. The author well balances giving us an education on map making / coloring without overwhelming us in details. There is definitely some love and scandal to add spice to the mix but I loved that Anneke tried her best to stay ethical and do the right thing while still trying to get ahead.

Definitely an unusual slice of history brought to life with compelling characters and an interesting plot. Read this one if you like The Perfumist of Paris or The Seamstress of Sardinia. 

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.

[Sarah W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.*

Anneke van Brug is a talented young map colorist in seventeenth-century Amsterdam with ambitions to make her own map. Her efforts to make this goal a reality turn out to have devastating consequences for her entire family, as old family secrets are revealed and the dark machinations of Anneke's employers threaten her own future. This novel was deeply researched and manages to make seventeenth-century Amsterdam felt incredibly present and real. Overall, a fascinating read that would appeal to historical fiction fans.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy five stars for a unique and beautifully written coming-of-age historical fiction novel. With well-drawn characters, extensive research, and a tone and language that puts us in the footsteps of Anneke, a charming and talented protagonist, we are immersed in the intrigue and cultural complexity of 17th century Amsterdam.

[Kim McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars
1660's Amsterdam women were not admitted to the trade guilds but did contribute on the sidelines.
Anneke is a talented map colorist like her mother but longs to create the maps like her artist father and surveyor brother. Her artistic flair earns her a commission from a wealthy map collector. Anneke enjoys her time with Herr de Root and believes he can help her fulfill her dreams of including her original map in a premier atlas being printed. In Anneke we see an ambitious young woman hungering for the same chance that a man would have. She wants more than her mother and uses whatever means she has to make that dream a reality even with disastrous results. Readers of historical fiction involving strong women and THE MINIATURIST will savor this story based in fact.
My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Teresa Janssen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this work of historical fiction about a young woman brimming with talent who was constrained by the limitations of the era she lived in. I knew little about the map making of that time and learned so much, which is one of the reasons I read this genre. The young protagonist's character was very well developed, and I found myself rooting for her throughout the book. D'Harlingue skillfully brings to life this fascinating time and locale.

[Michal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to like this book (small press, historical fiction, early modern, gender!) but the writing was incredibly flat, none of anneke’s ambition had real depth, the murder happened suddenly with no meaningful logic behind it (like with the rest of the plot), and the characters were all one-dimensional. Disappointed.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. Set in 17th century Amsterdam among the niche world of mapmaking and map coloring, I thought I was in for a histori-fictional gem. There were flashes of vivid reality in descriptions of skating afternoons, or mixing paints, or poring over notes of Dutch West/East India Company expeditions, but they were far too rare and sometimes drawn out so long that the apple lost the shine.

I think this book is supposed to highlight the opportunities and restrictions placed on women (and social roles in general) in this era, with a splash of feminist revision, but the characterization didn't stand up to the demands. The only rounded characters ended up being the mother and the suitor. Everyone else was a self-absorbed, single dimension character who either over-thought for a whole chapter at a time or rushed into a situation without thinking at all. Even that has its place in writing, but then the author would have the characters rehash every event in their entire lives with droning commentary until I started to yell "get on with it". If this was a reality show, there was only 20% original content and the rest was recapping and then recapping the recaps.

In the opening chapters there is a bit of character description including looks, dress, personal style and the like, but then it is dropped completely. We never find out how old anyone is. Are they 2 years old at the start? 17 ? 24 ? We have no idea. Normally I don't care for constant preening over-description of appearance in books, but to have it totally removed was very awkward.

The actual plot doesn't start until chapter 33 (67% of the way into the book). Then there is a rush of desperate action, followed by more recapping, rehashing and useless pondering. Most of the characters berate the others for being selfish in one breath and then ask for a favor or for the other person to think of *their* perspective in the next breath. No one listens to anyone and every conversation is people cutting each other off and starting a tangent. Plot devices and entire characters disappear for years at a time. A plot line from the beginning is dropped for 30 chapters then becomes the focus of the last quarter of the book.

The story also fails at both portraying a contemporaneous view of women's place and regard in society, especially regarding paid work AND fails at reimagining the female characters as outliers carving out their own place in the world despite restrictions. We are left with a messy 50/50 interpretation where some women work but are degraded for it but also praised and respected but they feel guilty but also have goals and dreams but sabotage themselves even when presented with an opportunity to take credit or advance their career.

The prose and language chosen by the author became distracting rather early on. I just DNFed a book that was incredibly pretentious and the author clearly wanted to be an elven poet of some kind. "The Map Colorist" was more readable until I realized it's written at a first grade level. All of the sentences are short to the point of being choppy and I don't think the author used common English contractions at all. Dialogue is stilted, and compounded with people either interrupting each other or rushing off saying "I can't talk now" or "I'm too tired", it was really annoying. If it's important, say it. Why else bring it up?

I'm still fascinated by the era and the subject re: maps, but the flat characters and ill-balanced pacing did this book a disservice.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical read following a family in Amsterdam during the height of this city being the trading and map-pringing capital of the world. The van Brug family is known for their high quality map coloring and their father has told stories of his travels to new lands far different from anything in Amsterdam. Anneke, the daughter has always taken to the map coloring in becoming a part of them when she gets asked to complete work for a wealthy map collector, her parents agree she cannot turn this opportunity down. Entering the world of the wealthy, Anneke is quite innocent in her way of seeing the world and when given the option to have her choice of any gift bestowed upon her, she choses something unexpected and what had always seemed just a dream out of reach for a female of her time. She wants to put her fathers dream to print, while showing her skills and knowledge. Little does she know this gift may just be the downfall of the secrets her family has harbored and might just unveil why her fathers dream had never always been just that, a nightly tale he told. This was a very interesting read about map mapping and surveying during that time. Thank you to LibraryThing and to the author for the free novel I won in a giveaway. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Apart from cartographers themselves, and perhaps engravers, who knew the intricacies of a map better than a skilled colorist?...Adding beauty to the map...improving the viewer's ability to grasp the information therein...A colored map seduced in a way that no plain black lines could do."

Amsterdam was considered to be the map printing capital of the world in the seventeenth century. Anneke van Brug's mother, Lysbeth, was a map colorist for Blaeu Printing House. Lysbeth worked anonymously coloring maps. By teaching her teenage children Anneke, 14 and Luke, 13 to do the basics, she could "devote herself to the more elaborate, more satisfying decorations found on most maps: cartouches, scrollwork, botanicals...costumed figures...the compass rose. In this way, they would increase the family's income and security...". "There is a required uniformity to this work...Perhaps some day [Anneke] will have the wisdom and freedom to stray a bit from the usual color schemes...". While Lysbeth considered map coloring to be a chore and Lucas dreamed of visiting destinations represented on the map, Anneke's dream was to create her own map.

A new master colorist for Bleau House noticed that different coloring styles were being submitted by Lysbeth. Anneke had started to use some unconventional colors with matching embellishments on some maps. Wealthy client Willem de Groot then commissioned Anneke, as a colorist, to work at his home on elaborate map decorations. Money was no object. Additionally, gold and silver would be used to enhance the beauty of his maps. His goal was to elevate his status and further broadcast his wealth.

Papa's stories of Africa enchanted Anneke and Lucas. He had signed on as an assistant surveyor for Jan Van Herder's expedition to the Congo in 1642. His job was to make sketches of the terrain, the animals and the people. On the journey home, a storm swept his sketches overboard. His notes had survived. Anneke was determined to surprise her father with a gift, his lifelong dream of a map of the Congo created from the notes of his 1642 expedition. Already an exceptional colorist, she had gained surveying skills from sitting in on her brother's tutoring sessions in surveying and cartography. Perhaps a map of the Congo could even be included in "The Atlas Maior printed by the Blaeu Printing House...the largest and most expensive publication of the seventeenth century".

Anneke's ambitions were stymied by a family secret. Lies, deception and murder would follow. How could a determined, caring, young woman, a would be cartographer, get caught up in the potential demise of her family? Better choices could have been made. Men seemed to have the luxury of choice while women needed to hide their talents. Why else would Anneke secretly purchase extra candles and work under cover of darkness to create her map? Why else would she seek the influence of a patron?

"The Map Colorist" by Rebecca D'Harlingue is a detailed, informative work of historical fiction that encourages the reader to enter the world of map colorists in seventeenth century Amsterdam. It was fascinating to enter the household of the fictitious Willem de Groot and learn of his extensive collection of maps including a celestial globe. At this time in history, most of the populace were only able to afford black and white maps. An engrossing and captivating read!

Thank you Rebecca D'Harlingue for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Women taking a different path" is, says the author blurb, the subject Rebecca D'Harlingue likes to write about. This historical fiction novel, about a 17th century woman who colors maps and yearns to do even more, is an admirable entry in this very popular chick-lit sub-genre. In Amsterdam at this time, map-making was an art in itself, and Amsterdam was the map-printing center of the world. The known world was growing as the age of exploration widened European's views of lands outside their ken and previous reach, and along with the desirable printing of maps came the art and skill of coloring the black-and-white printed versions that were published at the time.

Anneke, her mother Lysbeth, and her brother Lucas, have jobs as map colorists, adding flourishes and interest to the visual art that patrons would hang on their wall. This story is the story of Anneke and her ambitions to become not only a great map colorist but also to widen her world by making her own map. But this is more than the story of one girl; this is the story of a family very bound by social and legal boundaries which force all of them into behaviors, roles and stories not of their own choosing.

The story begins very typically for this genre, with the focus on Anneke and her development into a quite talented artist, and the difficulties she encounters as she tries to move among the male world of the printers and collectors. The story gains momentum as you go, widening the scope to include not only her own conflicts but those of her family as well. Her own conflicts are mainly social ones, as she navigates the social mores of the time vis a vis relations with possible suitors and bosses. She also has to deal with the problems of class conflicts, as she develops a closeness to, and yet a major conflict with, her employer of quite a higher social class than herself. The employer's wife also puts her in grave social danger, at a time when the close-knit society would "cancel" you if you transgressed mores.

I found the story of Lysbeth, Anneke's mother, more poignant than Anneke's. Lysbeth's story is one of lost love for a man not in her life anymore, and complicated love for the man she did choose as her husband, Isaac. I found the author fleshed out Lysbeth's character with realistic emotional conflicts and depths of desires, fears and worries that made her stand out in this novel. She, as well, is subject to the limitations of life for women at this time, and unlike her daughter, is more constrained, by her marriage and role as wife and mother, limiting her from exploring her talent more than her daughter.

Isaac's and Lucas' stories also add to the realism of social strictures of the time and place, and I found their characterizations and story arcs similarly developed and interesting.

Overall I found this an engrossing read. Plot points include infidelity, twisty revelations, intrigue and danger. A great read. Thank you to the author and publishers for a review copy.

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Map Colorist”, penned by Rebecca D’Harlingue, is a remarkable historical narrative that intricately portrays the life of Anneke and her family, nestled in the heart of seventeenth-century Amsterdam. Anneke, born into a family of mapmakers and colorists, is captivated by her father’s youthful tales of African explorations and develops a yearning to map the enigmatic African continent herself. This family of map artisans, nestled in the close quarters of their Amsterdam abode, experience a shift in dynamics when Anneke’s extraordinary talent earns her a coveted position at the esteemed Baleau map printing firm. Anneke’s journey henceforth, marked by her employment under the affluent Willem de Groot, spirals into a labyrinth of deceit, with ramifications that reverberate throughout her family.

D’Harlingue masterfully captures the ambiance of the period, fostering a strong emotional connection between the reader and the naive yet ambitious Anneke, with her forbidden aspirations of joining the male-dominated profession of mapmaking. “The Map Colorist” is thus a captivating read for enthusiasts of historical fiction, as it artfully intertwines the personal with the historical.

This breathtaking novel effortlessly earns a full five-star rating. D’Harlingue’s narrative prowess shines as she evokes empathy and investment in her beautifully fleshed out characters, along with their aspirations, triumphs, and tribulations. This subdued, yet potent tale will resonate with discerning readers, particularly those with a penchant for rich historical detail. The Dutch setting may remind some of “The Miniaturist” by Jessie Burton, yet “The Map Colorist” carves out its unique narrative trajectory.

My singular critique is that I wished for a more extensive exploration of Amsterdam’s bustling city life. This would allow readers to truly immerse themselves in the vibrant streets amidst the prosperous merchants. The compelling narrative arc leaves readers on tenterhooks as they wonder whether Anneke will fulfil her dream of creating a map or have her aspirations crushed under the weight of a tumultuous world riddled with adultery, murder, and duplicity.

[Amy Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work of women's fiction is extremely authentic and unique. I can definitely say it's in the category of books that taught me about a section of history I'd never really considered. Maps used to be a huge industry at a time in which everything was done by hand and world exploration was at it's utmost prime. Of course, this also brought about the ugly side of exploration, and this book also touches on the evils of slavery and colonization. With map-making being such a huge and lucrative industry, there was a wonderful and beautiful job of a map colorist, a person who painstakingly and beautifully adds their personal flourishes to the finished maps. These were skilled artists and painters, and they were often times women. This book follows a young girl who follows her mother into this world of map coloration and makes a name for herself. But she also pushes the limits and desires to become a map maker, not just a colorist. This is a job women weren't believed to be capable of in the 1700's, so it creates a bit of a stir.

I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this novel. While sometimes I felt the prose was a bit formal and stilted, I still enjoyed it. Part of that may have been due to the time period, because that kind of fits with an older time period and a more antiquated conversational style. But it can be a bit jarring. Still, this is a valuable piece of historical fiction and I enjoyed it very much.

[Baby Snakes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came to this book through my interest in living history, illuminated manuscripts, and medieval maps. The technical details, the descriptions of being lost in the work, small pockets of daily life: all rang quite true. I really liked those parts.

However, the prose is pretty simplistic and most of the characters are not even halfway fleshed out, they just feel like tropes without redemption arcs; for instance, manchildren at the beginning of the book are manchildren at the end of the book; doormat characters are doormats throughout. The fates of several characters are not revealed by book's end, and I will not waste one second wondering about those outcomes, because I never cared about those characters.

There is a lot of tedious angst repetition and re-explaining various situations over and over, which was a pervasive annoyance through the second half of the book. This sort of thing might have been the author's choice, but it's the editor's fault that such chaff made it into print. Sadly, this disappointing aspect of the book is not unique to this editor or author; it feels like modern publishing relies on books of about 300 pages and so a lot of really fine novellas get padded with this sort of excessive handwringing to meet that page count. Clearly, this issue doesn't bother a lot of people, but it bothers me.

On the whole, I'd probably try this author again and just use the judicious skim to pass up all the sturm und drang filler.

[Anne M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If he had known how it would end, my father would have struck the paintbrush from my young hand.” An intriguing first line and one that sets the tone of this deep novel.
The Van Brug family members are talented and rather ambitious beyond their place in 1660s Amsterdam. Young Anneke idolized her father, a still aspiring painter, and loves her hard-working mother, who teaches her to be a map colorist like herself. Her older brother has a more strained by devoted relationship with his family.
Anneke finds herself in a tangled web of deceit and lies, and as a young woman from humble means, sees no way out.
The book is well researched and illuminates the world of map making and glimpses of the industries it furthers. The epilogue reflects and asks the questions the story raises about lies, deceit, guilt, shame and regret.
I hope this isn’t a spoiler, it was one of my favorite scenes: Anneke finds a discarded map she painted. It is a masterpiece. One of her best works, though painted during one of her most harrowing times, as she hid from her despair in her art. The scene is so well written, and yes, much great art, music or visual, is often created when the artist is in deep pain. Yet we see or hear beauty, joy or even their cry for help, is still so beautiful.
Well done.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story in The Map Colorist brings women's voices out of the shadows to their earned place in the creation of the imaginative maps of the 17th c.

Maps brought the explorers' world to those who had not seen it but had heard the stories of the adventurers who ventured into the world. Maps were more than lines on pages but included mythological creatures, celestial and navigational positions and were meant to be an artistic achievement as well as a geographic record of the known world. The vivid colors painted by hand on top of the black and white printed maps added to their beauty.

Anneke van Brug's family members including her mother painted colors on as map colorists. Even though Anneke is the most talented of her siblings, she struggles to be recognized and be able to do more than just color in what some man had drawn. The author's research brings us a carefully drawn world and a compelling story with the twists and turns of family secrets that has at its heart a contemporary theme: a woman's yearning to be recognized for her merit and have opportunities opened to her. Readers who enjoy history and the reframing of it from a woman's perspective will enjoy this narrative of Anneke's journey.

[Karen Klink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start, but I enjoyed this historical novel taking place in seventeenth century Holland once enough into it. Outstanding research on the development of maps during the period and the personages involved. What I found lacking was scene development. I like reading historical for their ability to put me into the period, to make me feel what it was like to live there and then. Aside from a mention of the type of beds and the facts that one house is more elegant than another, I found little to make me see, touch, taste, or smell much of anything in this place and period. Several times a character walked from one place to another with no description of life in that town. Were the streets of cobblestone, paved, mud? Crowded with people? Animals? Was it clean or dirty? What did it smell like to live there? What sorts of everyday sounds? I would have liked more of this for each of the scenes, as well. At least for those important scenes.

More scene description and less repetition of what went on in characters' thoughts.

Overall, a story well worth reading.

[Elizabeth Kane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful timepiece, 1600’s Amsterdam, a young girl, with an egotistic artist father and a mother who, although an artist in her own right, sacrifices her dreams to support her husband by being a Map colorist (one who does the color detail work on maps of the day) for one of the major map makers of the time.
She in turn, trains the daughter and her brother to assist in this work, the daughter (the focal point of the story) develops skills far beyond her mother, and the brother, while being later trained to become a surveyor and mapmaker , has the sister sit in with his tutoring….and she finds herself dreaming of doing this for herself one day, even though prohibited to women of the day.
The story follows her journey as she becomes involved with a local patron, coloring his personal map collection, a wife who is a snake and revelations about her own father and stories he told his children that are not truths…that lead the family to a fateful ending.
Good telling,…loved learning and envisioning this time period of a new place in time.

[Linda Ulleseit · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story of a mother's ambition inspiring her daughter. Anneke's mother is a wealth of great observations. Mom wonders, "... if women must always hide their talents so as not to make the men they love feel that they are less."

While her mother is proud of Anneke's achievement, and even her greater artistic talent, Anneke's father won't admit to either of his female family member's talent. Mom says, "It requires a very generous spirit to rejoice in someone else’s success on a path that you yourself had hoped to tread."

When Anneke's ambition to be more than a colorist takes flight, it leads to secrets within the family. Near the end of the book, Mom wonders "What tragedies might have been averted if there had been no deception?"

This book is well written and researched, and the characters are wonderfully done with flaws everyone can relate to. Highly recommended.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook, so I cannot fully say whether my impression of this book is due to the writing, the narrator, or both. It is a very intriguing storyline and I thought several times while listening that though the research was impressive, it seemed more like a screenplay development tool than a novel. The dialogue is a bit forced as read, but there’s very good material here and after speeding up the tempo through the app, I was able to maintain my attention.

Maybe someone will make this into a film I think it would benefit from a shift in point of view. Good bones. I would have enjoyed it more if I was not introduced to as much of the characters judgment and self doubt, but rather and more objective portrayal of the events, and the people caught up in them.

I will return to this author sometime in the future to see if later efforts bring more nuanced exploration of language and story.

[Florence Kraut · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel of suspense, love, family and Coming of Age in 17th Century Amsterdam

Rebecca D'Harlingue's beautifully written story of a young woman who yearns to break out of the confines of 17th Century Amsterdam's cultural rules, captivates and immerses the reader in the world of map-making. But the book is much more than a coming-of-age story or an excellent description of the map-making industry in Amsterdam. It follows a finely drawn family as they come to grips with long hidden secrets, failed ambitions, unfulfilled dreams, disappointments and regret. Above all, what drives the characters in the tangle of actions taken and avoided, is the abiding love they have for one another as it clashes with their own desires and ambitions. A wonderful, believable novel. Highly recommended.

Florence R

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting for the details of map making, cartography, map coloring with water colors and the making of the paints. It also seemed to me to be a story of heavy emotional anxiety and self inflicted distress. And for all this anxiety, I wondered if the murder victim was really dead.
And like too many books these days one never finds out what happens to the majority of characters. They are the fictional ones, something could have been said. Yes Anneke tells her story and we do know what happened to Lysbeth and Helena, but what about Lucas and Daniel, even DeGroot. I guess asking about Isaac is too much.
I always read the Author's Notes first as in this case it tells about who were the real people in the map making people world at the time. The famous artists and the fact that maps appear in some of their paintings had me running to my art books.
Highly recommended.

[G.P. Gottlieb · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1660 Amsterdam, Anneke and her brother help support the household by learning their mother’s trade of coloring printed black and white maps. Anneke’s talent at coloring gets her a position in the home of a wealthy merchant, and she dreams of creating her own map based on her father’s notes, but infidelity and murder threaten to derail Anneke’s hope for marriage and children, her aspirations to have the map she draws in the largest map collection of the century, and her family’s freedom and livelihood. I enjoyed reading D'Harlingue's well-researched details of daily 17th century life and glimpses into various social conventions in this lovely story, but wanted to know more about Anneke’s courtship, more about why the brother refused to speak about his travels, and more about the father’s actions.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book set in 17th century Amsterdam with a heroine who can't admit to her artistic ambition in the face of her own doubts and societal and family pressure that says she mustn't, shouldn't, can't...simply because she's a woman. (Maddening.)

Thanks to her mother's lessons, Anneke becomes an expert in coloring maps. Her talent leads her to work in a printing shop and then to a wealthy private home. The reader sees the involved process of mixing colors and the enormous printing press. She falls in love, then out of love. Deals with her egocentric father, a mediocre artist, and her brother who wants out of the art business. But always her unadmitted ambition to create a map - a manly pursuit - leads her and she finds herself in risky adventures she cannot control.

A close-up look at the constraints on a woman's life and an enjoyable read.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century is one of the eras that fascinates me. THE MAP COLORIST is an historical fiction novel that depicts the life of a working class family of artists and map makers. Anneke has learned the art of enhancing black and white printed maps of the period at her mother’s side from an early age. The storyline explores her ambition to become a creator of maps rather than merely a colorist. If you’ve ever seen an old photograph that has been tinted, it is the same idea. The themes of the dominance of the corporation (the Dutch East/West Indies Trading Company) and the wealthy class, conspicuous consumption in the form of art and map collections and the misery it wrought for the have nots. Love, loyalty, ambition, greed, family, work, societal roles all comprise a tale that will capture the reader’s imagination—a satisfying read.

[Akemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read a lot of historical fiction but I was really taken with the way this story reflects modern sensibilities while keeping the reader absorbed in learning about what life would have been like in Amsterdam during that time period. The plot is very engaging and kept me quickly turning pages (though I often wanted to pause to look up a particularly interesting historical person or custom!). I really appreciate how all of the characters, both ‘good’ and ‘bad,’ are not one dimensional. They are all complex and contribute to the plot in surprising ways that make the story unpredictable and keep the reader wondering what will happen until the very end!

[Ana Brazil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a rich, immersive journey into the life of a family in mid-17th Century Amsterdam. And what an amazing time for Amsterdamers, as their men and ships sailed the world, exploring and exploiting the world’s riches. Maps, of course, were central to exploration, and with the right map colorist, maps were both useful and things of beauty. Rebecca D’Harlingue’s THE MAP COLORIST presents us with Anneke van Brug, a young, female map colorist who is bound to her family by love, respect, tradition, and occupation. Anneke’s story was both captivating and surprising, and THE MAP COLORIST was one of my favorite reads this year.

[Anne Echols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the main character of The Map Colorist, Rebecca D'Harlingue creates a uniquely colored and nuanced map of ordinary life for women in Amsterdam of the late seventeenth century. The author also captures the spirit of the time-- the curiosity about the world beyond the city and the ambition to draw accurate maps of it. I especially enjoyed the rich cast of characters, who were also uniquely colored through D'Harlingue's talent as a writer. They came across as flesh and blood humans with foibles, ambitions, sorrows and joys. The book reminded me of The Girl with a Pearl Earring in terms of setting and the circumstances of the main character, as well as her efforts to forge her way in the confusing world of men and power. I look forward to reading more of D'Harlingue's books and one day seeing a film interpretation of this novel.

[J Kathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Map Colorist. It is the story of a young artist who begins to work in the family business and soon surpasses her mother with her skill. Her ambition and frustration with what is possible for a female artist in seventeenth century Amsterdam leads her to some desperate decisions. Her reputation and that of her family is put in danger by her actions. Complicated and intriguing, I was fascinated by the historical details included in this novel. I have many friends who are artists working with vellum and paints to create beautiful works of art in historical styles. This novel gave me a better appreciation of their skills.

[Sophia Kouidou-Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca D’Harlingue’s novel, set in 1660s Amsterdam, explores the map industry and the intricate dynamics of Anneke’s family, who work for the esteemed Blaeu House. With a failed artist as a father, Anneke and her mother sustain their livelihood as skilled colorists. Anneke’s brother aspires to be a certified surveyor after a two-year mission. Secretly using her father’s notes from a Congo expedition, Anneke creates a new map, gaining the support of the aristocrat De Groot. The story culminates in a shocking twist involving dark family secrets and societal struggles, making it a compelling read for historical fiction enthusiasts.

[Patti Procopi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book on audio. It was an interesting story. I love old maps but never gave any thought to the people who colored them. I'll pay more attention the next time I look at one in a museum. The story set in 1600's Amsterdam is a story old as time. Women being regulated to second place both in the work world and in their home lives. The story is told through the eyes of the young daughter who has dreams of being much more than someone who colors in maps. Her ambitions lead to numerous problems. I had an issue with a major plot hole - but maybe I was the only one who noticed. I enjoyed this book.