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Synopsis

The tale of william smith and the birth of a science. 7th reprint.

Item Description

8vo. 8.75 x 5.75 inches. xiv + 338 pp. Bound in original maroon cloth, gilt, in unclipped pictorial dust wrapper. Light spotting of top edge, but otherwise a very good copy. Illustrated by frontispiece and 32 text figures. Decorated by 19 chapter heading vignettes. Coloured map endpapers. Account of the life and career of William Smith (1769-1839), pioneer Geologist and stratigrapher, who published the first geological map of England in 1815. It relates in detail how he came to form his ideas, first revealing them to his travelling companions on surveying the extensive view of the countryside after climbing the tower of York Minster in 1794; an event which has been described as 'the birthday of the science of stratigraphy' (p.103). By Simon Winchester (b.1944), journalist an prolific author of bestselling non-fiction narrative works. Reprint of the first edition.