The Map That Changed the World : William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology
by Simon Winchester
- Used
- Fine
- Paperback
- Condition
- Fine
- ISBN 10
- 0060931809
- ISBN 13
- 9780060931803
- Seller
-
Arlington, Virginia, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
In 1793, a canal digger named William Smith made a startling discovery. He found that by tracing the placement of fossils, which he uncovered in his excavations, one could follow layers of rocks as they dipped and rose and fell -- clear across England and, indeed, clear across the world -- making it possible, for the first time ever, to draw a chart of the hidden underside of the earth. Determined to expose what he realized was the landscape's secret fourth dimension, Smith spent twenty-two years piecing together the fragments of this unseen universe to create an epochal and remarkably beautiful hand-painted map. But instead of receiving accolades and honors, he ended up in debtors' prison, the victim of plagiarism, and virtually homeless for ten years more. Finally, in 1831, this quiet genius -- now known as the father of modern geology -- received the Geological Society of London's highest award and King William IV offered him a lifetime pension.
Synopsis
Following the hugely successful hardback, this extraordinary tale of the father of modern geology looks set to be the non fiction paperback for 2002. 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 beset by troubles: 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.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Books of the World (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- RWARE0000003004
- Title
- The Map That Changed the World : William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology
- Author
- Simon Winchester
- Illustrator
- Soun Vannithone
- Format/Binding
- Trade Paperback
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0060931809
- ISBN 13
- 9780060931803
- Publisher
- HarperCollins / Perennial
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- August 2002
- Keywords
- biography, William Smith, geology, lithosphere, stratigraphic, history, science, history of science, England, English, Britain, British, Great Britain, United Kingdom, UK
- Bookseller catalogs
- Science & Technology; History; Biographies; Britain; Textbooks;
- Size
- 8vo
Terms of Sale
Books of the World
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Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Remainder Mark
- Usually an ink marking of some sort which indicates that the book was designated a remainder. In most cases, it can be found on...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Trade Paperback
- Used to indicate any paperback book that is larger than a mass-market paperback and is often more similar in size to a hardcover...