Terrible Lizard: The First Dinosaur Hunters and the Birth of a New Science

TERRIBLE LIZARD (or THE DINOSAUR HUNTERS in its reprint) is a first rate history of the period in the early 19th century when a group of individuals began, for the first time, to understand the fossils that had been known for some time as the remains of giant reptiles who lived in a time that predated human history. But it is also very much an adventure story, and like all good adventure stories, it has a hero, a heroine, an excellent set of supporting characters, and, of course, a dastardly villain. In a word, the story told is how Gideon Mantell undertook much of the work in formulating the earliest conception of giant reptiles who lived eons before humans but had his achievement appropriated by the gifted but ambitious and devious Richard Owen. The heroine of the story is Mary Anning, who sparked the interest of the early geologists by her uncanning ability to unearth fossils and near complete skeletons from the area around Lyme Regis in southern England. Hers is a somewhat sad story, for while she repeatedly spurs science on by her remarkable discoveries, she lives her life in a perpetual struggle against poverty. Nevertheless, the way her contributions, despite her being merely the daughter of a carpenter who died while she was a child, gain her the respect and esteem of some of the leading scientists in England, is inspiring. The hero of the story, and the individual around whom much of the book revolves, is Gideon Mantell. Despite working as a physician with a brutally demanding schedule, Mantell managed to build up a first rate collection of fossil remains, and became the first person to identify and describe most of the first dinosaurs to be discovered. Ignored at first because of his social and amateur status, Mantell gradually gained the respect of his peers and gained admittance to the Royal Society. Despite this, he was never able to obtain patronage or a scientific position that would have allowed him to pursue his studies full time. His plight is the source of much of the pathos of the book. The villain of the story is the overly ambitious and somewhat sadistic Richard Owen, who provided us with the word "dinosaur" but who also attempted to claim as his own much of the work done by Mantell and others. In contrast to Mantell, Owen early in his life obtains positions that allow him to study anatomy full time, and enjoys the patronage of the nation as he gains more and more power. His arrogance, dishonesty, lust for power, and his unremitting attempt to coopt the credit rightfully belonging to others, made me wonder if the title of the book in part refers to him. Along the way, we encounter a number of other extraordinary characters, from the famed French anatomist Georges Cuvier to William Buckland--who with Mantell was the first to describe the dinosaurs--to the great geologist Charles Lyell to Charles Darwin. A thoroughly enjoyable history that I can heartily recommend to anyone interested in intellectual history, paleontology

TERRIBLE LIZARD is a first rate history of the period in the early 19th century when a group of individuals began, for the first time, to understand the fossils that had been known for some time as the remains of giant reptiles who lived in a time that predated human history. But it is also very much an adventure story, and like all good adventure stories, it has a hero, a heroine, an excellent set of supporting characters, and, of course, a dastardly villain. In a word, the story told is how Gideon Mantell undertook much of the work in formulating the earliest conception of giant reptiles who lived eons before humans but had his achievement appropriated by the gifted but ambitious and devious Richard Owen. The heroine of the story is Mary Anning, who sparked the interest of the early geologists by her uncanning ability to unearth fossils and near complete skeletons from the area around Lyme Regis in southern England. Hers is a somewhat sad story, for while she repeatedly spurs science on by her remarkable discoveries, she lives her life in a perpetual struggle against poverty. Nevertheless, the way her contributions, despite her being merely the daughter of a carpenter who died while she was a child, gain her the respect and esteem of some of the leading scientists in England, is inspiring. The hero of the story, and the individual around whom much of the book revolves, is Gideon Mantell. Despite working as a physician with a brutally demanding schedule, Mantell managed to build up a first rate collection of fossil remains, and became the first person to identify and describe most of the first dinosaurs to be discovered. Ignored at first because of his social and amateur status, Mantell gradually gained the respect of his peers and gained admittance to the Royal Society. Despite this, he was never able to obtain patronage or a scientific position that would have allowed him to pursue his studies full time. His plight is the source of much of the pathos of the book. The villain of the story is the overly ambitious and somewhat sadistic Richard Owen, who provided us with the word "dinosaur" but who also attempted to claim as his own much of the work done by Mantell and others. In contrast to Mantell, Owen early in his life obtains positions that allow him to study anatomy full time, and enjoys the patronage of the nation as he gains more and more power. His arrogance, dishonesty, lust for power, and his unremitting attempt to coopt the credit rightfully belonging to others, made me wonder if the title of the book in part refers to him. Along the way, we encounter a number of other extraordinary characters, from the famed French anatomist Georges Cuvier to William Buckland--who with Mantell was the first to describe the dinosaurs--to the great geologist Charles Lyell to Charles Darwin. A thoroughly enjoyable history that I can heartily recommend to anyone interested in intellectual history, paleontology, or just a flat out adventure tale.

Well, there was a lull in the first 1/3 of the book, but it picks up steam and towards the end I literally could not put it down. My wife had to keep reminding me that it was time to eat and to put that darned book away! Let me say that if the subject matter interests you, I cannot imagine a better written book. The strentghs are numerous. The book is dramatic, in it gets you to care about poor Gideon Mantell and, whilst showing all of Richard Owen's legendary near-evil personality, it does also show a more balanced view of this notorious figure in the history of biology/science. But the human touch is the key in both of these figures that the book points out. Another key is the easy, very vernacular language of the book. There is nothing technical and is very easy to read, even for early teens. Also, towards the end the book touches on Owens late battles with Huxley and Darwin. This is a fascinating section where we see the once invicible Owen finally meeting his match in Huxley and the battle that ensues. There is also in the space of about one page about the best, simplest summary of Evolution I've ever seen (and I've read the Origin of Species twice over). Highly, highly recommended. (for $3-$4 used, what are you waiting for??)

Deborah Cadbury does the burgeoning genre of popular science proud with this book. It has all the necessary elements. A human interest story with heroes and villians, an interesting historical setting and a good scientific foundation. The history and science revolves around the gigantic fossilized bones that were being discovered throughout southern England in the early 19th century. Paleontology and Geology were just beginning as sciences. Evolution was a concept but not yet a theory as this was pre-Darwin's ORIGIN OF SPECIES. Indeed in 1812 when an uneducated and simple villager named Mary Anning found a gigantic skeleton on a beach under the Dorset cliffs, there was nothing else to call it but a monster. The word "dinosaur" didn't exist. It was coined in 1842 by Richard Owen, one of the principal characters in this story. Mary's discovery started the great quest to identify, categorize, name and date these bones. We meet Gideon Mantell, the poor son of a shoemaker who by dint of hard work and education became a country doctor and a member of the scientific community. He is the sympathetic character this story revolves around and the author wants us to embrace him. Mantell was one of THE DINOSAUR HUNTERS which is in fact the more appropriate title used for this book's edition in Britain. Mantell was typical of these amateur paleontologists who were combing southern England in the hopes of making some great discovery. It's true that only some were eccentric but it's also fair to say they all shared an obsession for bones. Mantell filled his home with fossils, developing one of the finest private collections in England. His devotion to the world of dead creatures came at a cost. It drained all the life out of his marriage and his wife left him in 1839. Mantell did at least have some success, discovering the skeleton of what would later be named the Iguanadon. That's about the only success he had though and his life story as told here is one of disappointment and bitterness with a sad ending. If Mantell is the sympathetic character then the opposite emotional responses should be directed towards Richard Owen. Cadbury paints a very unflattering portrait of the man (Sir Richard eventually) who founded the Natural History Museum, invented "Dinosauria", and was consulted by royalty, prime ministers, and academia on all things fossilized. The author says he was "instinctively predatory" and if Cadbury rather than her publishers chose the title for the book, then it's very appropriate as it's quite clear from her writing who she sees as the TERRIBLE LIZARD.Mantell is reminiscent of William "Strata" Smith in THE MAP THAT CHANGED THE WORLD. The same disdain as shown by the scientific elite and similar financial difficulties. Smith's story however had an ultimately redeeming end. Not so here. Mantell had to sell his fossil collection to the Natural History Museum and following a carriage accident which badly damaged his spine and left him with severe backa

If you have an interest in fossils, the Regency/Georgian period of English history, or anything Darwin - then I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did. This is my definite must read of 2001.I picked up the story because of my fascination for Georgian and Regency England, and that is where this book begins. I kept reading because Cadbury has a wonderful style - and tells the story (and it is quite a story) without drama. It unfolds beautifully in fact. From the first discoveries and theories of the rocks and geology of Britain to the final acceptance of a world beyond the bible's theory of creationism. I just loved how Cadbury refrained from turning this into some kind of tabloid/overly dramatic presentation. The story itself is dramatic enough and has tension, jealousy, pride, and a fair amount of mystery in it to keep the reader thoroughly absorbed. There are 4 main characters in this book - beginning with Mary Anning who without training or even education began to uncover the most amazing fossil shapes in and around Lyme Regis - following in her father's footsteps. Until this time the fossils had been sold without really knowing what they were - but in 1812 she uncovered what could only be the skeleton of a monster and the search for an explanation of what it was and how it got there began. Even at this stage the research was done with rudimentary knowledge of geology and formations - and any explanations conflicted with the accepted church teachings that god created earth in a week. After all - how could monsters have ever roamed the earth in another time? God created all things perfectly in 7 days.The main defence for the church, the man who tried to marry religious doctrine with the increasing evidence of other generations of strange prehistoric creations, was William Buckland. His role became increasingly more difficult as evidence mounted both in England and in France.However this is mainly the story of two men - Gideon Mantell, a rather poor English Doctor who dedicated all his spare time to trying to piece together the past from his obsessive fascination with fossils - and his rivalry with the pathologically jealous Richard Owen.That in itself makes a story to rival the worst excesses of an Aaron Spelling TV series. Owen's strange behaviour and jealous protection of what he felt was his territory ended up crippling more than one avid researcher to the period, and certainly ended up crippling Mantell. The story comes together so well. Cadbury has carefully pieced together each stage of the journey to discovery of our Dinosaur age, and its influence on later thinkers such as Darwin - as well as deftly writing of the personal troubles of all the main characters in the book. I found this book compulsive reading and highly recommend it.