The Fossil Hunter: Dinosaurs, Evolution, And The Woman Whose Discoveries Changed The World (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
This biography of the woman who unearthed the first Ichthyosaurus is both a deeply moving personal story of the overcoming of poverty and illiteracy and a fascinating history of the period immediately preceding Darwin’s Origin of Species. Mary Anning of Lyme Regis, England laid the groundwork for the theory of evolution by her relentless efforts to chisel fossils out of the chalk cliffs of Southern England. Pushed by the need to earn a living from the sale of fossils and spurred on by the steady stream of professional geologists who visited her and purchased her finds, Anning unearthed some of the most important fossils of this era, including the first Ichthyosaurus. Emlings’ portrayal brings Anning’s story to life. We can visualize Anning in her rough clothes climbing the cliffs and we can feel her anguish when the geologists who relied on her work failed to credit her. Emilings’ insight into the driving forces of history adds energy to the story. Like several of the other critics I was bothered by the frequent use of phrases like “would have, most likely, probably,” to fill in the gaps of the recorded history. I wondered if a fictional version of the story, or conversely a more bare-boned telling that sticks to the facts, might be better. Still, the book held my interest to the end. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in either the history of evolution or the history of women scientists - or someone just looking for a good read. I have wanted to read this book for some time. I was not disappointed! If you've read Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures (which I have, and loved), you should really enjoy this non-fictionalized version of the story of Mary Anning's life and work. This woman from a very humble background spent her life digging through the treacherous cliffs of Lyme Regis, England, searching for fossils. Though she made many important discoveries, surpassing those of most of her male colleagues, little credit has been given to this pioneer. For those that have read RC, if it is possible, her real life reads even more like fiction than the fiction! An amazingly strong and independent woman, Anning's story should be shared with all young women, especially to encourage them to take a chance, do what you love, and follow your dreams. Hopefully, it will also encourage women to enter into the sciences! Fascinating book. I'm seeking out more about this wonderful era of discovery that changed everything about how we view our world!
What do You think about The Fossil Hunter: Dinosaurs, Evolution, And The Woman Whose Discoveries Changed The World (2009)?
Fascinating and well written. Mary Anning was true pioneer.
—nerf25
Great book. Fascinating true story. Could not put it down.
—cath
SHOULD have been fascinating...good material, bad writer.
—Kimaada
