Book
reviews E to M
|
 |
"... It is beautifully produced, with exemplary photographs and diagrams revealing the long-term turmoil that our planet is constantly suffering - even if on a human timescale it looks reasonably settled and permanent ...".
New Scientist, February 1997
"... Earth's Restless Surface will appeal to a wide potential readership from early teens through to adults ... The authors are to be congratulated on a fine book which does Earth science justice. Star rating *****"
Down to Earth, 1997
"... A highly educational book complete with eye-catching photographs and diagrams displaying the more gripping geographical goodies of landslides, hurricanes and earthquakes".
Geographical Magazine, 1997
 Back to the top
|
|
 |
"...This is a great little book. It is funny how similar the educational needs to school leavers and university lecturers can be: both want simple clear explanations which catch the imagination and stick. Colin is a master at achieving this. Instead of an exhaustive coverage of each topic he has gone out to impress minds and get the message across, and it works. The book is well illustrated, easy to handle, and readable in a weekend...if you are looking for an evolutionary text to 17-18-year-olds, Colin's book is hard to beat, and if you are looking, like me, to get back to evolutionary basics, this is something worth owning...".
Reviewed by Peter J Mayhew for Heredity, 82, 1998
"...a valuable tool for students being introduced to evolution and as a reference tool for teachers of biology ...".
Biological Abstracts/RRM, Vol 51, Issue 10, 22 October 1999
"... This book is a concise, lucid introduction to evolutionary geology for the layperson. Among the valuable resources is a discussion of molecular biology ... The drawing and charts make the text easier for a nonspecialist to follow ...".
Reports of the National Center for Science Education May/June 2000
Back to the top
|
 |
"Basically a 'trade secrets' manual with great clarity, dispensing bucket-loads of advice to accompany extraordinary images of virtually every kind of animal and plant in every environment."
Outdoor Photography, December 2006
"This book is indispensable to anyone serious about wildlife photography."
Amateur Photographer, April 2006
"Packed with superb photographs and with good advice...For the budding all-rounder with aspirations, this is the book to get."
Birding World, April 2006
Back to the top
|
|
 |
"... an elegant volume on Wallace's early career by Sandy Knapp, a Natural History Museum expert on South American botany.
... Knapp imbues her narrative with authority and tells her tale with admirable brevity, crisscrossing her account with abundant quotes from Wallace's letters and drawings from his two surviving notebooks.
... as the historian Jane Camerini puts it: 'Wallace deserves to be known, not just as a disembodied thinker, but as a man worth knowing for his Victorian goodness'".
Reviewed by Robin McKie for The Observer, 9 January 2000
"Alfred Russel Wallace, aged 21, got bitten by the collecting bug when another young man he met at Leicester library told him that there were 1,000 species of beetle to be found in a small part of the town. The beetle-browed one was Henry Walter Bates: the two of them in 1848 set out for an adventure on the Amazon. The idea was to finance the trip by collecting specimens and selling them.
Four years later, on the way back to Britain, Wallace's ship caught fire. All hands were saved, but not the specimens and diaries. All Wallace could save from the wreck was a tin box of some of his drawings. Sandy Knapp, herself a collector of Solenaceae in the Americas, found them in The Natural History Museum and has told the story in a little book that deserves a big audience ...
The world needs books like these, books about men too easily forgotten: they fill in history's gaps, and provide another insight into the sublime messiness from which great things emerge".
Reviewed by Tim Radford for The Guardian, 4 November 1999
"Alfred Russel Wallace, who reached the same conclusion about natural selection as Darwin did and collaborated with him, spent four years in the Amazon making drawings of the flora and fauna there. Disaster hit on his way home in 1852. His ship caught fire, leaving him time only to snatch one box of sketches while escaping. Footsteps in the Forest by Sandra Knapp tells the story of Wallace's adventures, illustrated by the exquisite, painstaking drawings saved from the flames".
New Scientist, 29 January 2000
Back to the top
|
|
 |
"…this
is an easily read book that is well presented and includes
information that will appeal to non-specialists and specialists
alike.
…The
book clearly succeeds in communicating difficult subjects,
and makes the important transition from merely being an
introduction to providing the essential background on
the subject. The widespread us of similes assists explanations
and succeeds in creating memory aids that are hard to
dislodge. Although lots of terminology is used in the
book, this is not done in a frightening way, and the text
is accessible to all. Our conclusion is that this book
gets the thumbs up for interested amateurs and undergraduates
interested in palaeontology, botany and terrestrial ecology.
…Before
this book there was an obvious gap in the market for an
accurate short introductory book that can be recommended
to others of various levels who are interested in the
field. This book fills that niche, and does it well…
This
book is important as it not only shows that fossils are
interesting but also emphasises their importance to a
diversity of other issues such as evolution, climate change,
ecology and natural resources to name but a few. Worthy
of adding to your collection, whoever you are, and hopefully
will draw more people in to the subject. Well done to
the authors, and it is clearly a publication that the
Natural History Museum can be proud of".
The Palaeontology Newsletter, 59, The Palaeontology
Association
"Although
their story might not have the same visceral appeal as
the dinosaurs', the question of how plants came to turn
the Earth green really is as interesting and important.
Fossil Plants tracks and illustrates their evolution from the depths of Precambrian time through the coal forests to the colouring of the land by flowering plants. For the interested amateur or student this is an ideal introduction to their history and origins of the green stuff that ultimately keeps us all going".
Douglas Palmer, New Scientist, 29 January 2005
"Those interested in the origin of plants will be interested in a new book from Natural History Museum Publishing. Fossil Plants by Paul Kenrick and Paul Davis looks at plants from the first green algae to the miniature Devonian forest of the Early Devonian period and the lush jungles of the Jurassic period and beyond...".
Horticulture Week, 18 November 2004
"This is the first book to focus on plant fossils and traces the origins of today's plants, comparing ancient forms with their modern counterparts. Written by Paul Davis and Paul Kenrick, and published by the Natural History Museum, the book is illustrated with photographs of comtemporary and ancient plant specimens".
BBC Wildlife Magazine, December 2004
Back to the top
|
|
 |
"... this is an exceptional flora that is a worthy update to its 1927 predecessor and fulfils its stated aim to be 'a user-friendly, well-illustrated identification guide ... that should describe as many of the British freshwater algae as possible'. Given that many of the algae in the flora have a cosmopolitan distribution, this new publication should be regarded not only a s a valuable asset for freshwater ecologists in the UK but throughout the world".
Iain Sime, Aquatic Conservation, 14:105, 2004
"This magnificent new flora, the first since 1927, describes the 1,719 species most likely to be found ...
... It includes 154 pages of excellent line drawings, and, in addition, a pocket inside the rear board contains a CD-Rom of colour pictures for a sample of species ... There is an excellent glossary, and a full reference list and index. For all this, £75 seems a reasonable price.
... The authors have done British natural history a tremendous service with this book. It brings the freshwater algae within the grasp of field naturalists for the first time in three generations".
British Wildlife, August 2002
"When looking at an unfamiliar microscopic world, such as that of a drop of pond water containing microscopic algae, one soon wants to know the identity of these beautiful life forms ... This book provides the ultimate answer to questions of algal identity ... It is an enormous and heroic work ...
The terminology used has been kept to a respectable level - though the non-professional will appreciate the glossary of terms. This makes the book the ultimate guide to these creatures ... I highly recommend this book for laboratories where microscopes are in daily use, and for all keen microscopists".
Reviewed by Roger Delpech for Biologist 50(1), 2003
Back to the top
|
|
 |
" ... a title that is long overdue. The market has been crying out for a popular treatment of the history of the Earth and this well written, beautifully illustrated work, exactly fits the bill.
In 72 full colour pages we are taken on our journey through 15,000 million years, from the beginnings of the Universe through to the evolution of man and beyond into the future.
... There are excellent chapters on the evolution of early life, dating the past and fossil preservation. As with any all encompassing subject such as this one, it is inevitable that there will be chapters on such topics as meteorites, formation of the solar system and the evolution of the atmosphere. However the main thrust of this book remains firmly one of how the earth has evolved throughout the vast span of time.
Read this book and you will want to find out more. An excellent entree into geology, should be on everyone's bookshelf".
Down to Earth, February 2000
Back to the top
|
|
 |
News
Read news reports on David Thomas's latest expedition to the Antarctic, November 2004-January 2005.
Scientists study Antarctic life BBC News website
Frozen
Oceans: Weekly
Journals from the Antarctic by David N Thomas
Book
reviews
"…There
are many books in which sea ice plays a major role, such
as those concerning explorers' and adventurers' journeys
in the polar regions, as well as general books about the
Arctic and Antarctic, with no special focus. Frozen
Oceans fills a gap in presenting this important topic
to a broad audience, including laymen interested in the
polar regions, climate research, and polar issues in general,
politicians and decisions-makers as well as students and
scientists…
The
fact that the author, a specialist in marine biogeochemistry,
has considerable experience in inter-disciplinary work
must have facilitated the preparation of Frozen oceans,
an undertaking that was clearly carried out with great
care and thoroughness…
I
would recommend the book for readers who are interested
in the field of sea ice, from laymen and students to scientists
working in polar research…"
Sebastian Gerland, Polar Research, 24(1-2) 2005
" I
remember vividly the feeling of wonder I felt when I was
first introduced to tone of the world's largest ecosystems,
the floating layer of sea ice that periodically surround
the continent of Antarctica…These feelings of wonder
came flooding back to me as I read this most recent contribution
to the sea ice literature. This excellent book is appropriate
for a scientifically savvy audience interested in learning
about sea Ice but with little or no prior knowledge. As
such, it fills a critical gap created by the previous dearth
of basic texts describing the physical, chemical, and biological
characteristics of sea ice that could be understood by the
non-specialist. Having said that, this book covers so many
different topics that even an expert in the study of sea
ice is likely to learn something new. I know I did….
I
found that this book struck the right balance between
the large number of topics covered and the level of detail
provided for each. A careful reading would certainly prepare
one for a more in-depth foray into the world of sea ice…
In
addition to its easy to read text, this book contains
an amazing collection of hundreds of color plates that
depict every conceivable aspect of sea ice ecology. Many
of these beautiful images are of organisms and habitats
that even I had never seen before. Although I would have
liked to have seen a bit more data in the form of tables
and graphs, these images add tremendously to the accessibility
and impact of this book and make it a truly valuable resource
for anyone interested in the ecology of these beautiful,
fascinating, and truly vast ecosystems".
Kevin Arrigo, Antarctic Science, 17 2005
"The
book explores the fascinating structure of the ice, its
formation and development…The rich biodiversity of
the Arctic and Antarctic polar regions and the part pack
ice plays in it and the oceans' food chain, is told in
a very clear, precise and easy-to-understand manner. The
chapter on the role of human son the ice, hunting, exploring
and doing scientific research is especially interesting
and shows how important they are for the survival of this
habitat…
This
is one of the Natural History Museum publications which
aims to introduce the general reader to a variety of topics
fro the natural world; perhaps a luxury to purchase for
the school library but a fascinating read".
Pat Williams, School Librarian, vol 53, number
1, spring 2005
"In this beautifully illustrated book, David Thomas
introduces us to the mysterious and inaccessible world of
the pack ice...The book provides a pleasant romp through
the physics, chemistry and biology of pack ice without an
equation or quantitative table in sight. Though largely
qualitative, the book is scientific in its approach…..Thomas
has made the intricate and remote world of the pack ice
accessible to us through this enjoyable book".
Michael
Whitfield, Times Higher Education Supplement, 4/2/05
"...
there
has never been a good, accessible book about sea ice.
Based on many years of personal experience and academic
research, Thomas has written a book that fills this gap
...
Thomas's virtuoso description of this habitat is supported by a vast number of lavish colour illustrations - I was particularly impressed by a perfectly exposed picture of a snow petrel sitting on sea ice.
Thomas also comments on the future of this biome and describes the potential impacts of organic pollutants such as PCBs and oil.
Even though tourists and film crews seem constantly to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic, few people get anywhere near the sea ice. David Thomas has written an excellent and timely book that opens up this relatively unknown but significant environment".
Mark Brandon, Polar scientist, BBC Wildlife Magazine, January 2005
"The frozen ends of our planet are among the most captivating and least known places on Earth. What takes them beyond our comprehension is ice. The Antarctic ice sheet is kilometres thick and covers and area bigger than Europe. Ice also means that much of the polar oceans are beyond our experience ...
David Thomas's infatuation with sea ice and the life associated with it drives him to work long and unusual hours. His book Frozen Oceans deals with pack ice: how it forms, the organisms living inside and under it, and how to study it - This will prove useful background reading for graduate students and scientists moving into polar marine science. It could also be valuable to tourists visiting the polar oceans. The descriptions of the biological communities living under the pack ice are very good and I learnt something new about the volatile gases, including bromoform and methyl bromide that are released from algae at the lower surfaces of sea ice. The book is clear and well written, and I particularly liked the descriptions of porridge, pancake and grease ice".
Lloyd Peck, Nature, vol 432, December 2004
"The secrets of pack ice, the nemesis of Shackleton's 1914 voyage in the Endurance and one of the earth's least known and least understood habitats, is revealed in this book for the general reader ... Pack ice is recognised as a central part of the rich biodiversity of the Polar Regions and the ocean's food chain. The role of humans on the ice, hunting, exploring and conducting scientific research, key to the survival of this habitat, is covered in depth in this fascinating book".
Marine Engineers Review, December 2004
"... Part-history lesson, part-geography, plenty of geology, lots of natural history and masses of fascinating facts make up a new book from Natural History Museum Publishing, Frozen Oceans.
Thomas, a veteran of many polar expeditions, explores the structure of the ice, its formation and development, the creatures that live in and on it and the role of humans in preserving or destroying it. Elements of the book are quite scientific but it's written in layman's terms with a combination of diagrams, maps, charts and beautiful photography. Thomas veers in on the exciting areas of astrobiology (ice on other planets); studying the ice from space; working at the polar research stations in freezing conditions; and using whales and seals equipped with cameras to go deep under the ice, where man has never been.
Needless to say, the book deals with the depressing prospects for the future, stating early on that at the present rate of decline, the Arctic will have no sea ice cover lasting through the summer by the end of this century, thanks to global warming".
Cruise Traveller, December 04
"Frozen Oceans by scientist David N Thomas is a glossy, well-produced book with nearly 200 color figures and photos, an introduction to polar and sub-polar pack ice regions of the northern and southern hemispheres ...
The layperson who perserveres will find the book very rewarding, even if not always easy to understand. Oceanographers and people with some first-hand knowledge of either the north or south polar regions, or science in general, will find the going easy and interesting. The subject of frozen oceans is covered very thorough, with virtually every aspect touched upon no matter how cursorily ...
... an overall very good book. There is much in here for anyone interested in some aspect of frozen oceans, and no matter how qualified the reader, it will definitely be a learning experience. Frozen Oceans will be an important popular reference for anyone remotely interested in polar oceanography".
Harold Welch, Oceanography, vol 17, no 4, December 2004
"Sous-titré 'the floating world of pack ice' (le monde flottant de la banquise), cet ouvrage traite des espaces maritimes partiellement gelés plusieurs mois par an ... Contrairement à ce qu'on pourrait croire, ce n'est pas un désert de glace mais un monde particulier grouillant de vie ... Les têtes de chapitres de 'Frozen Oceans' parlent d'elles-mêmes: qu'est-ce que la banquise?; que se passé-t-il quand l'eau de mer gèle?; les régions de la banquise dans le monde; la vie au sein d'un bloc de glace; les animaux dans et autour de la glace; la vie sous la glace; les mammifères, les oiseaux et la glace; l'étude de la banquise; menaces et potentialités. Le livre est abondamment illustré de photos, cartes et schémas. Le glossaire, à la fin, est particulièrement bienvenu".
Loïc Salmon, Journal de la Marine Marchande et du Transport Multimodal, 21 January 2005
"... Frozen Oceans: The Floating World of Pack Ice is the first book for the general reader to reveal the secrets of pack ice, the floating layer of frozen seawater which at its greatest extent covers 13% of the surface of the globe each year. The book explores the fascinating structure of the ice, its formation and development. It introduces the wealth of life forms from viruses to whales and humans. Pack ice is not recognised as a central part of the rich biodiversity of the polar regions and the oceans' food chain. The role of humans on the ice, hunting, exploring and doing scientific research, is of key importance to the survival of this habitat and the book offers a window onto the vital work being done by polar scientists".
Marine Times, December 2004
Back to the top
|
|
 |
"Roy
Watling is a highly respected and widely published professional
mycologist…In this little book he has set out to
provide an introduction for the general reader to the
world of fungi. Printed on glossy paper with striking
colour photographs or illustrations on every page with
a clear text and conversational style it certainly is
both attractive and informative. ...thoroughly recommended
to anyone setting out to explore the fifth kingdom or
to anyone who wants to widen their appreciation of the
natural world It would make a very suitable gift to a
young naturalist…".
E G D Tuddenham, The London Naturalist, no 83
2004
"Roy
Watling paints a delightful picture of these fascinating
organism, as would be expected of our local boy, who was
not only born in Halifax but also maintains strong mycological
links with the county. His latest book encapsulates the
magic that he has conveyed to many of us in the field
and laboratory and through his publications over many
years. This clearly expressed text, complemented by magnificent
illustrations, will provide a useful introduction to the
general reader and a pleasure for the botanist ...".
Mark Seaward, The Naturalist, 2004
"... the perfect next step from first noticing fungi to being better informed, while providing enough information and illustration to notice even more ... the photographs, and the printing, are of the highest standard (the picture credits list reads like a who's who in fungal photography... it covers a range of subjects; describing what is a fungus and where to find them, and covering collecting, studying, conservation and the relationship between humans and fungi including culture, myth and legend ... People seem genuinely amazed and fascinated by how often fungi touch their day to day lives without their even being aware of the kingdom. However, this text is well written and knowledgeable authority expected of the author ... anyone involved in education of family, friends or the general public will find the price of Roy Watling's Fungi a small investment to shed so much light. A nice book to own and a welcome gift for anyone who appreciates the countryside and nature, or for the more focused biologist".
Reviewed by Liz Moore, Mycol. Res. 108 (4) April 2004, publication of the British Mycological Society
"A must for fungi fans ... the book is a unique resource with clear, readable text ...".
Grower, 8 January 2004
"... Fungi is a timely reminder of what mushrooms are like on top form ... If you have missed the fungi in this colourful but mycologically barren autumn, this book is a good substitute. By going beyond identification or the recipe book, Watling brings us closer to a barely imaginary world, populated by little-known dainty or grotesque forms".
Reviewed by Peter Marren for The Daily Telegraph, December 2003
"... a unique resource for all those interested in fungi, with clear, readable text and a wealth of superb photographs. It is a detailed introduction to the world of the large fungi - those which have an obvious fruiting body - exploring the reasons for their multitude of shapes and colours, their diversity and importance in the lives of many other plants and animals. Fungi is ideal for anyone interested in mushrooms both for culinary or scientific reasons. The author is a respected mycologist who has written widely on the subject".
Education Today, December 2003
"There is no better ambassador for fungi than Roy Watling ... Roy has studied and advised on matters fungal around the world, and his enthusiasm must have inspired countless wannabe mycologists. He has put his encyclopaedic knowledge to good use in this colour book ...
This book gives a lively and fascinating account of the world of fungi. It covers the way fungi impact on our lives as food and, more recently, for their ability to absorb waste matter (as Watling points out, without fungi the world would quickly become one vast rubbish dump). The text is matched by splendid portrait gallery of pin-sharp colour photos including extraordinary fungi such as Aborigine's paintbrush, which sticks out of the desert like weathered statues; or pink goblets, clearly left over from a fairy feast on the forest floor. There is no better introduction to fungi and I recommend it highly".
Reviewed by Peter Marren for BBC Wildlife Magazine, October 2003
Back to the top
|
|
 |
"... this catalogue is a masterpiece of taxonomic scholarship. Its primary purpose, 'to provide a substantial body of taxonomic information, much of it previously unpublished, on the available names of a large group of invertebrates', is undeniably achieved. This catalogue is an indispensable tool for all systematists whose work involves Geometridae. However, it also has a secondary purpose, which is 'to respond constructively to the demand for systematissts to find ways ... of providing taxonomic data of this magnitude within a relatively short timespan'. For this, a team approach was essential. Thus in addition to the editor, the considerable input of Mark Parsons, Martin Honey, Linda and Brian Pitkin to this project cannot be overstated. This team is to be commended, not only for undertaking such a massive (and some might say daunting) task, but also for completing it in so timely and accurate a manner. In so doing, they have produced a work of outstanding quality and of a standard that will be difficult to match. Furthermore, this catalogue, which was five years in production, includes 1% of all currently recognized species. Thus, it requires only 200 such tomes (or 100 of these double volumes) to complete the "passenger list for Spaceship Earth" referred to by John Lawton in the foreword".
I J Kitching, Systematic Entomology 25, 280-281
" ... This Catalogue is the first complete inventory of the named fauna of the family, a thorough synthesis of its known diversity and a critical resource to anyone studying biodiversity. The work is compiled by one of the most outstanding scientists in the field and is based on the collections, card index, library and other legacy data in The Natural History Museum, London, as well as information from many other sources. It is a truly significant contribution to the inventory of life on earth".
Ebbe S Nielsen, Director, Australian National Insect Collection
"By compiling this high-quality catalogue of geometrid moths Dr Scoble and his dedicated co-workers have rendered evolutionary biology an immense service. These moths constitute a sizeable proportion of the total diversity of organisms. They exemplify several phenomena of interest to a broad spectrum of biologists. Elucidating the pathways along which such phenomena have evolved requires painstaking phylogenetic research, and catalogues like this one are the necessary starting point for all endeavours of that kind. By giving access to the generic arrangement adopted in the unrivalled collections of the Natural History Museum, the catalogue also provides managers of other collections with the first ever basis for curation of their entire geometrid holdings from many parts of the world".
Professor Niels P Kristensen, Department of Entomology, Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen
Back to the top
|
|
|
|
"... In the capable hands of three of the UK's best mineralogists this fascinating book takes the reader through all aspects of gold, that most alluring of all minerals that has captured the imagination of humans almost from the beginning.
If you want to know what gold is, its mineralogy, scientific properties, its geological emplacement, mining, processing and myth - then this book is for you ...
This book is above all informative but also accessible to readers with little or no geological background, so that someone coming into it from a background of say, jewellery, would find plenty to interest them. As we have come to expect the illustrations are first rate and include some excellent historical material.
This book comes highly recommended".
Down to Earth, February 2000
"Shining in the North's gloomy winter light are all manner of things gold: baubles on trees, cards with gilt on the deckle edges, little flakes of glitter in a bottle of scent or real flakes of gold in an Austrian schnapps. Experts at London's Natural History Museum set us straight about the real stuff in their book called Gold. It covers everything from your placer deposit (bit of glaciation, bit of erosion, hang a sheepskin in the river, and voila, Jason and the Argonauts will be visiting) to the computer industry and medical uses".
New Scientist, 15 January 2000
Back to the top
|
|
|
|
"Lichens are found the world over from mountain tops to rainforest to urban churchyards, and come in a startling array of colours and forms. Tree lungwort for example, gets its name from its lung-like appearance, and was used in earlier times to treat lung disease.
Lichenologist William Purvis reveals more about this extraordinary life-form in Lichens, part of the new Life Series collection from the Natural History Museum ... Featuring top-quality colour photos and accessible text, the books offer up-to-date, in-depth information and, in the case of Lichens, practical project ideas".
BBC Wildlife Magazine, 2001
"... an interesting and comprehensive overview of lichens, their biology, biodiversity, distribution and use in biomonitoring. With sections on ecology and evolution, and an in-depth look at using lichens as a means of assessing pollution levels and changing environmental conditions, it highlights the important role that lichens play in global ecology.
This is a well set out and easily understandable book that would be suitable for biologists and non-biologists alike. It uses simple language, giving a fascinating and lively read".
Sherkin Comment, issue no. 29, 2001
"This superbly produced work does justice not only to the beauty of these fascinating plants but also to their uniqueness. Stunning photography is supported by an informative text that effectively portrays their biodiversity, ecological role, ability to survive in extreme environments and value as biological monitors; other sections deal with their structure, growth, dispersal, classification and economic uses, and some practical projects are appended. Thoroughly recommended as an introductory text for schools and natural historians in general".
The Naturalist, 126, 2001
"This is an excellent introduction to the miniature world of lichens, form a new series of 'Life' guides from the world-renowned museum".
Natural World, the magazine of The Wildlife Trusts, 2001
Back to the top
|
|
 |
"... it is refreshing to see a book that has much new information about this institution, not just in photographs, as the title suggests, but also in a highly readable and often amusing set of extended captions ...
The monochrome images, covering 70 years of the Museum's history, are arranged chronologically and their selection gives us not just a history of the building, but also a social history of the staff and visitors, as well as an insight into the fashions in public displays and scientific research ...
The titles and captions are both witty and informative, as one would expect from the Museum's archivists, and their labours have uncovered some little-known facts about the building ...
This is a delightful and fascinating book, at a very reasonable price, and I cannot imagine anyone who will not find something informative, amusing or thought-provoking in its pages".
Reviewed by Peter Barnard for Archives of natural history, 31(2), 2004
"... a startling, often funny and usually bizarre testament to the Natural History Museum since its creation...The photographs are all dazzling and all redolent of the awe with which the complexity of the natural world was held ...".
Reviewed by Hugo Worthy for Rare Book Review, February 2004
"Few people would disagree that old photographs bring particular pleasure, serving as a reminder of days and customs gone by and, in some instances, of places and events almost forgotten. Life Through a Lens is a gathering of the beautiful photographs from the Natural History Museum's vast collection ... The photographs, selected for the exhibition and book, by archivists Susan Snell and Polly Tucker, reflect change over the years but also the most enduring features of the museum that have delighted and captivated generations".
Good Times, January-February 2004
"The Natural History Museum has been photographing itself and its visitors since the 1880s ... As well as showing scientists larking about in 1899 and Percy Stammwitz, expert dolphin caster, doing his stuff in 1924, the photographs are a fascinating overview of how the museum changed in the 70 years to 1950".
Country Life, January 2004
"The hats are from the House of Elliot, the picture dates to 1927. From the humble flea to a stuffed elephant brought back from India by the future Edward VII, Life Through a Lens records the little and large of The Natural History Museum from Victorian times to just after the Second World War. The authors, who are senior archivists at the museum, have pulled together a fascinating collection of the curiosities and everyday museum life of yesteryear. There's even a picture of Cromwell Road, which runs in front of the museum, in which the traffic amounts to just a horse and carriage or two and an omnibus. While the outside world has changed, this book demonstrates the timeless appeal and value of the Natural History Museum".
Reviewed by Mark Rowe for BBC Wildlife Magazine, October 2003
Back to the top
|
|
 |
"This is a very practical guide for bench use beside the microscope; it is in A4 ring binder format and profusely illustrated. The format works very well, and this is substantially due to the fully labelled photographs by Peter York, using interference microscopy.
This book is accessible to veterinarians and non-specialist biologists and it should appear on the shelves of every department of dermatology and parasitology.
This guide is truly unique in providing a focused and highly practical tool on identification and background biology for use by animal health professionals. Considering both its use and the very substantial amount of work that has gone into preparing it, it is also reasonably priced".
Alan R Walker, The Veterinary Record, 28 October 2000
"... a long awaited practical guide to the study methods used in mite/tick identification. This book will be a well-thumbed reference, not just in libraries, but in veterinary practices, research and teaching establishments and veterinary diagnostic laboratories".
Peter G J Bates, Veterinary Laboratory Agency (Weybridge) in Veterinary Parasitology 93 (2000)
Back to the top
|
|
|
