FOSSILGUY.COM

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My New Release

The First Female Fossil Hunter: The Life and Legacy of Mary Anning

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From the Author: My Journey into Mary Anning's World

    Writing this story about Mary Anning took me on an unforgettable journey across the Jurassic Coast of southern Britain. In Lyme Regis, the place where she lived, worked, and made her extraordinary discoveries, I explored the same cliffside beaches she once explored and even found some of the same types of fossils she found, including ammonites and an ichthyosaur tooth.

    Conversations with local residents, fossil guides, shop owners, and museum curators revealed a wealth of knowledge and stories. Along the narrow streets, the salt-worn facades of buildings from her era echoed the world Mary once knew. In the museums, fossils she uncovered and prepared more than two centuries ago rested in front of me. And through her surviving letters, I gained a deeper appreciation for the obstacles she faced and the insight she brought to each discovery.

    From iconic cliffs and sea arches to dinosaur tracksites and fossilized forests, I fell completely in love with the Jurassic Coast. Its nearly continuous sequence of fossil-bearing Mesozoic rocks is stunning, but what moved me most was seeing Mary's world up close and understanding both her discoveries and the landscape that shaped her, supported her, and at times made her struggle.

    This book grew out of that experience: a blend of science, history, and personal exploration, inspired by a remarkable woman whose legacy continues to resonate today.

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The Book: A remarkable story of fossils, history, and resilience along England's Jurassic Coast

    Standing at the base of the Jurassic Coast's towering cliffs, the layers of rock before you read like pages from Earth's earliest chapters. This book brings those chapters to life, blending geology, paleontology, history, and the story of one of the most remarkable fossil hunters in history: Mary Anning.

    Mary's discoveries along the cliffs of Lyme Regis changed the way we understand extinction, evolution, and deep time. But what makes this book stand out is the way it places her life within the scientific, cultural, and personal world she lived in, showing what she found and why she mattered.

    This book gives more than a simple retelling of Mary Anning's discoveries. It provides a clear and engaging tour of the Jurassic Coast, explaining how its cliffs formed, why so many fossils are found there, and what the landscape meant to the people who worked, studied, and lived alongside it.

    The focus then shifts to the world Mary navigated, including the Georgian and Victorian eras, the rise of geology as a profession, and the ways women were often pushed to the margins of scientific life. Mary's friendships, hardships, collaborations, and quiet triumphs are woven into the broader story of early paleontology. Readers also meet other pioneering women of the era and see how they supported one another at a time when women were rarely welcomed into scientific circles.

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What Readers Are Saying:

"I really enjoyed this book." - NetGalley, Titti Capasso

    "This book appeared at the right moment in my life because I wanted to know more about Mary Anning and her discoveries... It starts by giving the reader a brief yet thorough account of the geology of Lyme Regis and the area where Mary found her fossils. The language was clear and simple and the style conversational, and even those who are not experts in this field (like me) will find it easy to understand the scientific context of this book.

    We then move to the historical and social context... I liked that other famous women geologists were included and it was emphasized how they supported each other in a time where women were still considered unfit to pursue a scientific career.

    For a long time Mary Anning was not given the recognition she deserved... She is a role model for young girls who want a career in STEM and an example of resilience and determination."

"The discussion around Mary Anning was excellent." - NetGalley, Stephen Goldberg

    "I enjoyed this book. The discussion around Mary Anning was excellent as was the discussion of science and society at the time. I found the writing very conversational and I really liked some of Kowinsky's turns of phrase. I also enjoyed the author's journey and the great images."

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Get it here: US (Amazon) or UK (Pen and Sword):

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