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Book Synopsis

THE EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF THE FATHER OF MODERN GEOLOGY

Hidden behind velvet curtains above a stairway in a house in London''s Piccadilly is an enormous and beautiful hand-coloured map - the first geological map of anywhere in the world. Its maker was a farmer''s son named William Smith. Born in 1769 his life was troubled: he was imprisoned for debt, turned out of his home, his work was plagiarised, his wife went insane and the scientific establishment shunned him.

It was not until 1829, when a Yorkshire aristocrat recognised his genius, that he was returned to London in triumph: The Map That Changed the World is his story.

''For a geologist, this is a must read'' Amazon Reviewer

''It serves to lift a genius from academic semi-obscurity and to award him the acknowledgement he undoubtedly deserves'' Amazon Reviewer


''Never realised how seminal this map was'' Amazon Reviewer

The Map That Changed the World

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A Paperback / softback by Simon Winchester

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    View other formats and editions of The Map That Changed the World by Simon Winchester

    Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
    Publication Date: 04/07/2002
    ISBN13: 9780140280395, 978-0140280395
    ISBN10: 0140280391

    Description

    Book Synopsis

    THE EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF THE FATHER OF MODERN GEOLOGY

    Hidden behind velvet curtains above a stairway in a house in London''s Piccadilly is an enormous and beautiful hand-coloured map - the first geological map of anywhere in the world. Its maker was a farmer''s son named William Smith. Born in 1769 his life was troubled: he was imprisoned for debt, turned out of his home, his work was plagiarised, his wife went insane and the scientific establishment shunned him.

    It was not until 1829, when a Yorkshire aristocrat recognised his genius, that he was returned to London in triumph: The Map That Changed the World is his story.

    ''For a geologist, this is a must read'' Amazon Reviewer

    ''It serves to lift a genius from academic semi-obscurity and to award him the acknowledgement he undoubtedly deserves'' Amazon Reviewer


    ''Never realised how seminal this map was'' Amazon Reviewer

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