Strange creatures, by Tracy Chevalier
When you think about the early days of paleontology, the discoverer of dinosaurs is often presented as an intersection is Charles Darwin, Professor. Lidenbrock (the crazy scientist-genialoide of "Journey to the Center of the Earth", so to speak) and Indiana Jones. A century aristocrat a bit 'a little scientist' explorer, some 'genius, a bit' weird.
This book, however, points the spotlight on two very different from this stereotype. A girl and a faded old maid who has now passed the marriageable age are represented in many important discoveries, including some beautiful ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs exhibited in London.
Tracy Chevalier is used to speaking to women: important women, ordinary women, I've only read his books "The Lady and the Unicorn" and "The Girl dall'orecchino of pearl", which although beautiful I was very bitter. The author in fact is always talking about women who nevertheless eventually find themselves having to submit to a male-dominated world which has led, and in part still is ours. While accepting this option if inserted in a context of historical accuracy, do not share it for the simple reason that we're talking about novels. And in the novel the author would also have decided to give a small victory to his female characters. In this book finally comes victory, and it is complete.
The author deals with many sensitive issues of interest: the contribution made to science and knowledge from the fans or the simple and uneducated people, the role of women in science and the hardships they had to overcome to reach it, the rivalry between scientists .
But above tells the compelling story of a discovery of a face to face with the terrible sea monsters, as seen through the eyes of the first, if he found them before, not having the foggiest idea what they were. And the story of a friendship.
Very nice, and very well written.
PS: I think the title, "Remarkable cretures" is poorly translated, but the cover I find it fantastic.
PS for lovers of Jane Austen speaks of Lyme, and I think it definitely has something "Persuasion"
A Jerome a bit more 'thoughtful and less than ridanciano known through the three men in a boat, more' in line with "The thoughts of an idle idle. "These brief reflections on the theme of the woman I liked very much for the love Jerome shows to bring to the female sex. These criticisms joking, his teasing, his humor can not hide a respect and appreciation that transpires between the lines. Praise for the woman as such, leading to the contempt of those aesthetic practices that demean the woman as an individual to make a simple Barbie equal to all others. It appears the last topical chapter. Read it today a hundred years after the time at which 'was written, in a world of inflated by Botox and silicone, is definitely a strange feeling ...