Cities are mortal, but the traces they leave behind tell a fascinating story. In Atlas of Lost Cities, an accomplished travel writer reveals the rise and fall of notable places, each pithy portrait illuminated by a vintage map that puts armchair explorers right in the scene. Wander with care through:

• Ancient and legendary places like Pompeii, Teotihuacà and Angkor
• Contemporary wonders like Centralia, a nearly abandoned Pennsylvania town consumed by unquenchable underground fire
• Eerie planned communities like Nova Citas de Kilamba in Angola, where housing, schools, and stores were built for 500,000 people who never came
• Epecuen, a tourist town in Argentina that was swallowed by water

With each map are fantastical illustrations that help the reader envision these hubs as they were in their prime. A perfect gift for the traveler who believes he or she has seen it all.