Impossible Monsters
Dinosaurs, Darwin and the War Between Science and Religion
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:14th Mar '24
Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£12.99(9781529931341)
This captivating narrative explores how the discovery of dinosaurs challenged traditional beliefs, as told in Impossible Monsters.
The book Impossible Monsters tells the fascinating tale of how the discovery of dinosaur fossils transformed our understanding of Earth's history. It begins in 1811, when a young girl stumbled upon unusual bones along the southern coast of Britain. These bones belonged to creatures that had never been seen before and were buried deep beneath layers of rock. As more fossils emerged over the years, scientists faced a challenging dilemma: the findings contradicted the biblical narrative of creation, leading to a profound crisis in both science and religion.
This narrative explores the lives of the remarkable individuals who contributed to these groundbreaking discoveries, as well as those who resisted the implications of their findings. Notably, it highlights the courage of pioneering thinkers, including Charles Darwin, who risked their reputations to forge a new understanding of human and Earth’s origins. The tension between emerging scientific evidence and traditional beliefs created a dramatic backdrop for the evolution of thought in the 19th century.
Impossible Monsters ultimately illustrates how these discoveries not only revealed truths about the past but also liberated science from religious constraints, marking the dawn of a secular age. Through a blend of historical detail and engaging storytelling, this book invites readers to reflect on the nature of knowledge and belief, showcasing how the impossible can become possible through inquiry and perseverance.
One of the most interesting stories in the world . . . brilliant . . . told with brio and humour, but not without a sense of the pathos of Doubt . . . I relished every word -- A. N. Wilson * Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year *
Excellent . . . Everything that popular scholarly history should be . . . written with clarity, zest, and wit -- Piers Brendon * Literary Review *
Impossible Monsters captivatingly outlines how the unearthing of strange bones toppled traditional understanding of the origins of the world . . . rather miraculous -- Roger Lewis * Telegraph **** *
Marvellous . . . Impossible Monsters is a work of remarkable range. Taylor . . . belongs to that rare class of writers who can effortlessly encompass both scientific arcana and intellectual currents. It is also to his credit that he every so often takes us away from the high tables to show us what ordinary people made of these huge strides in thinking -- Pratinav Anil * Guardian *
Eminently readable and well-researched . . . He writes well, knows his subject and has a fine eye for detail * Spectator *
Such an attractive book . . . a sympathetic, charming, beautifully written guide through a pivotal part of history -- John van Whye * BBC History Magazine *
In writing Impossible Monsters, the task of Michael Taylor . . . was to tell a much-told tale better than it had been told before. He has succeeded splendidly . . . Mr Taylor also conveys a sense of just how risky it was to believe in and promulgate the new ideas tied to the rocks and tropical forests where people hunted for specimens * Economist *
Skilfully blends an impressive array of sources into a highly readable, almost novelistic narrative. In particular, it features many women who played crucial roles but are too often invisible . . . Including gripping tales as well as serious commentary, Impossible Monsters chips out a fascinating slice through the strata of Victorian society * History Today *
The emotional impact on the Victorians . . . was profound . . . Taylor recounts not just the interventions of palaeontologists and geologists but also those stricken by events as their faith evaporated . . . he marshals his cast expertly and shows lucidly why it mattered so much * New Statesman *
This book confirms what I've suspected for a while, that Michael Taylor is the most talented young historian around. This book dazzles in its originality and there is something you want to commit to memory on every page. A triumph -- SATHNAM SANGERA, author of Empireworld
ISBN: 9781847926784
Dimensions: 240mm x 162mm x 42mm
Weight: 751g
496 pages