The Elusive West and the Contest for Empire, 1713-1763

“The Elusive West and the Contest for Empire is written in a graceful, conversational style that asks good questions and makes thoughtful answers.” — Journal of American History

“Path-breaking. . . . A rich and novel story that will force historians to rethink some of the standard interpretations of the struggle for empire in 18th-century North America.” — London Review of Books

“Deeply researched and carefully argued.” — American Historical Review

“Recommended for classroom use and the general history buff seeking a new perspective.” — Colonial Latin American Historical Review

“Mapp’s prose is lucid and engaging, and he displays a dazzling knowledge of early modern European cartography. . . . [This] book is first class all the way, from the many reproduced maps to the generous space allotted for the index, and it is a pleasure to pick up and peruse.” — Arkansas Historical Quarterly

“Thoughtfully researched, structured, and argued. . . . Mapp has written an excellent book.” — Journal of Interdisciplinary History

“An impressively well-researched and thoughtful work.” — Southwestern Historical Quarterly

“[A] thought-provoking study of the eighteenth-century colonial West before 1763.” — The Historian

“Mapp displays a knowledge of European diplomacy and Borderlands history that will dazzle. . . . [He] places the elusive West back on the misinformed maps of the time and restores contingency to the course of empire.” — New Mexico Historical Review

“Deeply researched and beautifully written and illustrated book. . . is highly recommended.” — Tennessee Historical Quarterly