The lines that divide us

Since the earliest known marker denoting the edge of one land and the beginning of the next, borders have been imagined, mapped, moved, and fought over. In The Edge of the Plain, author James Crawford skillfully blends history, travel writing, and reportage to trace these borderlines throughout history.

What happens on the ground when we impose lines on a map that contradict how humans have always lived—and moved? Crawford confronts that question with striking examples from around the world. He also explores the colliding forces of nationalism, climate change, globalization, and mass migration. A thought-provoking study, The Edge of the Plain illuminates past and present lines of separation, how we define them—and how they define us.

Additional Book Details