Explore 5,000 Years of Literature on One Epic Map
How to read the map?
You don’t need to be a literature expert to enjoy it. The map is self-explanatory — readers instantly recognize their favorite authors and start discovering new ones along the way.
It All Starts in the Center
The journey begins at the center — with Sumerian tablets and ancient myths. From there, it spirals outward through 5,000 years of literary evolution.
Five Literary Continents
The map divides literature into five continents — Prose, Poetry, Drama, Non-Fiction, and Graphic. Each one is its own world filled with genres, authors, and stories.
Genres Become Landscapes
Genres unfold like islands and valleys — from Fantasy and Romance to Realism and Horror. Each region shows how literary movements connect and evolve.
Authors rule the land
Great authors form their own countries, their works marked as shining cities. From Shakespeare to Austen and Tolkien, you’ll see how writers shaped the world of books.
For the most detailed and comprehensive description of the map, visit this article written by the artist himself.
How was the map created?
The Map of the Literature was created by Martin Vargic, a self-taught Slovak artist known for his intricate, imaginative maps. It was entirely hand-drawn—no AI, no shortcuts—blending traditional cartography with modern literary data to create something truly timeless.
What began as a personal fascination became a months-long journey of research, illustration, and storytelling—charting the entire history of literature in a way the world has never seen.
A portion of every sale supports Martin directly, so he can keep making the impossible real.
"After months of hard work and many sleepless nights, I am very grateful to present you the finished Map of the Literature."
— Martin Vargic
Here are just a few literary lands you'll find…
Click on any + button below to explore details.
Ancient Origins
Location: At the very center - where Sumerian tablets, Egyptian myths, and sacred texts first gave shape to the written word.
Shakespeare’s Empire
Location: Within the Drama continent, near the Straits of Gutenberg. This is the map’s largest realm, where over 30 plays reshaped the course of theater and storytelling.
Existential Realms
Location: East of the Non-Fiction continent, where modern thought takes shape. Here, you’ll find Nietzsche, Marx, Camus, and Sartre debating freedom, morality, and the meaning of existence.
Austen vs. Brontë
Location: Along the border of Romanticism and Realism. Here, Austen’s sharp social satire meets the Brontës’ stormy emotion and drama.
Classic Russian Titans
Location: South of Realism, near the shores of Naturalism - Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Gogol wrestle with morality, fate, and the soul.
Birth of SCI-FI & Mystery
Location: Where Romanticism ends and genre fiction begins - Mystery, Sci-Fi, and Adventure emerge, from detectives to distant galaxies.
Fantasy Kingdoms
Location: In the northwest corner of the Prose continent, surrounding the Sea of Chosen Ones. Tolkien, Riordan, and Rowling reign over lands filled with legends and magic.
Global Literature Insights
Location: Along the map’s outer edge. This area offers a broader view of the literary world, with data on publishing, public libraries, bestselling books, and celebrated authors.
Now it's your turn to explore it.
@bookmarked.by.jordy
“My wife hung it up in her reading space, and now she shows it to every guest who visits.”
@bookswithbuzzi
“For the reader who has everything give the gift that goes beyond pages.”
@JulesBurt
“Finding the perfect gift for book lovers is tough...”
@bethsbookshelf
“You can travel around literary genres just by looking at this map.”
Simon C.
“This year, I found something she has never seen before.”
@SFRetirementLibrary
“It's not just an amazing piece of art, it's also a huge amount of information...”
@wanderreadings
“A new essential for any home library...”
@fantasyreader.md
“I cannot wait to get this up in my space...”
@warnocksbooks
“The Map of Literature is amazing! I could spend hours looking at this!”
@lit.by.adam
“I’m completely speechless at how beautiful and detailed this map is.”
@posiesandpages
“Normally maps and I don't go well together but this is definitely an exception.”
@blossomingthroughbooks
“The bookish girls treasure map ✨”
@classic.literature.love
“This map fits so perfectly in my library and I just love how unique it is.”
@ananascanread
“Warning: may cause spontaneous wikipedia spirals and bookshelf rearrangements.”
Reading essentials
"so yeah, you could literally get lost in “austenland,” climb the epic poetry mountains, or take a vacation in WillShakes lands (just, beware of tragic endings).
if you could live in any literary land, where would you set up camp?"
By: @ananascanread (144K followers)
For readers, writers, and scholars alike, this mappa mundi is more than decoration — it is a must-have for any bibliophile.
The result is a dazzling piece, one that rewards visiting and searching to discover favorite authors and works...
The Map of Literature combines centuries of books and poems in one gorgeous illustration...
Book nerds should appreciate his comprehensiveness.
Give them the whole literary universe. Map of the Literature is an ultimate gift for book lovers, teachers, students, and collectors. It’s surprising, original, and guaranteed to be something they’ve never seen before.
Popular questions
Still have questions about materials, shipping, or framing?
You can view full product details or browse the complete FAQ page for everything else.
Definitely. Many customers buy it as a meaningful present for readers, teachers, and book lovers. You can even ship it directly to the recipient — no prices are shown on the packing slip. However, we’re currently not able to include any custom gift notes with the order.
Framed posters are shipped in protective bubble wrap and durable cardboard.
Print-only posters are wrapped in tissue paper and rolled into durable shipping tubes.
We currently offer two sizes:
• 31 × 35 inches (78 × 90 cm)
• 40 × 45 inches (100 × 115 cm) - recommended
Yes! You can choose from a selection of ready-to-hang frames on the product page.
We also offer the map rolled and unframed for those who prefer custom framing or want more flexibility.
Yes — it’s both accurate and artistic. The map was researched for many months using real literary data and academic sources before being illustrated by Martin Vargic. It’s been praised by scholars and teachers, including Latino Book Review, which wrote that it “offers both knowledge and aesthetic: part atlas, part artwork."
Absolutely. The map represents world literature —from every continent, including Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, not just Europe or the U.S.
Yes. This is the 2025 Edition, featuring new additions and corrections based on the latest literary research.
No — the Map of the Literature is available exclusively here on Titan Maps. You won’t find it in stores or on other websites.
No — we don’t sell the digital files separately.
But every order of the Map of the Literature poster includes a Digital Companion Pack with:
– A full-resolution artwork file (with a light watermark)
– An exclusive wallpaper set for phones and computers.
Yes! We ship almost everywhere in the world, with fast and secure tracked delivery.
Please note: we currently do not ship to Russia, Belarus, India, P.O. boxes, military bases, or certain very remote locations.
20% OFF 1 Poster or 30% OFF any 2+
Our best prices of the year — discount applied automatically.