2003/03/19 by Hugh Clout, Cyril Gosme · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Engineering · #Geographic Information Systems Studies #Historical Geography and Cartography #Historical Geography and Geographical Thought #Peacetime #Quality (philosophy) #History #Operations research #Archaeology #Engineering
paper · doi:10.1191/0309132503ph420oa
openalex publication_date 2003/03/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/19
The Naval Intelligence Handbooks produced by British academics between 1941 and 1946 form the largest single body of geographical writing ever published. Two teams of authors based at Oxford and Cambridge completed 31 titles (58 volumes) before financial constraints required many titles to be cancelled. Speed and accuracy were absolutely essential in preparation of the Handbooks since lives might well depend on the quality of the information presented. This wartime experience served as a springboard into university careers for some British geographers, and in several instances peacetime publications were stimulated by research previously undertaken as part of the Naval Intelligence project. Sixty years later the economic and social information in the Handbooks appears seriously outdated, but historical, geological and topographic accounts retain their validity, especially those relating to parts of the world distant from Europe.