BOOK:REVIEW

Remarkable Creatures, By Tracy Chevalier

REMARKABLE CREATURES
By Tracy Chevalier

Early nineteenth century, Dorset Coast, and Fossils; Combining these three elements with a rich dose of friendship, envy and love isn’t a usual book choice. However I am truly grateful for such a refreshing novel to have fallen into my hands this summer.

Despite being separated by age and class, Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot are two women brought together through the discovery of dinosaur fossils on the English Coastline. In a time of male dominance and strict religious beliefs, both Mary and Elizabeth are under scrutiny from their community and female gossips, along with the Church as they comb the coastline for ammonites, ‘crocs’ and ‘turtles’.

Gently bringing the reader into the minds of the nineteenth century this book explores the attempt to understand fossils and make sense of their place within religion.

Based on the true story of Mary Anning and her successful fossil hunting off the coast of Lyme Regis, minds are opened to the various perceptions of life, along with the strength of friendship. Not fast-paced, nor a dramatic page turner, but still one beautifully written novel that holds the readers’ hand through Edwardian Britain and into its perception of love, life, and friendship.