(A tale of Rocks, Ruin & Redemption)
Author: Simon Winchester
Publisher: Viking & Penguin
Published Date: First published in 2001 & then 2008
ISBN : 13-:978-0-140-28039-5
Length: 338 pages
Price: £12.99 or less
Available From: Harts Books, Amazon.co.uk . World of Books
Description:
This book is about English geologist William Smith and his great achievement, the first geological map of England, Wales and southern Scotland. Smith was not rich or well connected, but his passion for rocks and fossils, and his twenty year obsession with single-handedly mapping the geology of Britain made him one of the significant men of the nineteenth century. However, his vision cost him dear-his wife went mad, his work was stolen by jealous colleagues who eventually ruined him, and he was imprisoned for debt. Simon Winchester tells the fascinating story of ‘Strata’ Smith, a man who crossed boundaries of class, wealth and science to produce a map that fundamentally changed the way we view the world. The book uses many technical words and descriptions but usefully provides a comprehensive ‘Glossary of Geological and Other Unfamiliar Terms’.
The Author
Simon Winchester studied geology at Oxford and has written for Condé Nast Traveller, Smithsonian, and National Geographic. His many books include The Professor and the Madman ; Krakatoa; and A Crack in the Edge of the World. Each of these have both been New York Times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. He was awarded the OBE by HM The Queen in 2006 for his valuable services to journalism and literature.