Date: 23 December 2009
Mary Anning came to life for me in this novel based on the real-life fossil-hunter. I found the female characters to be particularly well-drawn and memorable - Mary, her friend (initially mentor), Elizabeth, and Mary’s strong though uneducated mother, Molly. This is one of the real strengths in a story which sees Mary discovering hitherto unknown dinosaur fossils, and challenging the male-oriented scientific world, eventually earning their respect. Lyme Regis, where she lived and worked, is now on my places to visit list!
JDM