Book Review: The Dinosaur Hunters

As a paleontologist, I am always interested in reading new books about paleontology, especially books about how the science has developed during its short history. The Dinosaur Hunters: A True Story of Scientific Rivalry and the Discovery of the Prehistoric World by Deborah Cadbury, published in 2000 is not exactly a new book, but we paleontologists are accustomed to working in time spans of thousands and millions of years.

The Dinosaur Hunters examines the early years of the science of paleontology. Cadbury makes use of the diaries and correspondence of early paleontologists such as Mary Anning, Dr. Gideon Mantell, Rev. William Buckland, Georges Cuvier, Rev. William Conybeare, Richard Owen, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, and Charles Darwin.

Cadbury first introduces the reader to the fossil-hunter Mary Anning in Lyme Regis, England. Anning learned her trade from her father, and used it to support her family after her father's death when she was a child. Anning educated herself about the fossils she sold to some of the biggest names on 19th century paleontology, but she never gained the respect and recognition of the scientific community.

"She says the world has used her ill and she does not care for it," wrote one of Anning's friends. "According to her account, these men of learning have sucked her brains, and made a great deal by publishing works, of which she furnished the contents, while she derived none of the advantages." Richard Owen once said that he would "take a run down to make love to Mary Anning at Lyme and then post home.'

Cadbury focuses on the rivalry between Dr. Gideon Mantell and Sir Richard Owen. Mantell's busy life as a country doctor and lack of social standing made it difficult for him to gain acceptance and respect in the scientific community, despite his groundbreaking work on both Megalosaurus and Iguanodon.

Owen, on the other hand, gained the friendship of the famous French anatomist Georges Cuvier, and was able to marry into society. As a professor and conservator at the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons Owen was able to concentrate on his research. Owen used his influence to keep Gideon Mantell from becoming a member of the Royal Society, and cast doubt on the scientific work done by Mantell while using Mantell's publications.

Mantell objected to this treatment by Mantell, "in all fairness, it should have been mentioned that the first reference to the teeth in question to the Hylaeosaurus was made by me four years ago," wrote Mantell to the Literary Gazette about Owen's criticisms. Mantell later said that Owen was "overpaid, over-praised, and cursed with a jealous, monopolizing spirit!"

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic