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

The Map That Changed the World

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    A Paperback / softback by Simon Winchester

    4 in stock

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      Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
      Publication Date: 04/07/2002
      ISBN13: 9780140280395, 978-0140280395
      ISBN10: 0140280391
      Also in:
      Biography Biography: adventurers and explorers Earth Sciences, Geography & Environment Cartography, map-making and projections Natural History The Earth: natural history: general interest

      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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