"Rudwick has restored geology to its rightful historical place at the heart of modern scientific culture." - Ralph O'Connor, Science "A masterly exploration of the nineteenth-century roots of this particular scientific revolution." - Douglas Palmer, New Scientist "Rudwick's books are myth-busters.... Rudwick highlights an underappreciated, glorious advance in human thought, the documentation of which is a rather glorious achievement itself." - Victor R. Baker, Nature "Magisterial.... A thoroughly engaging and utterly sympathetic treatment of the notable figures who laid the foundation for modern geology in the period between 1820 and 1845, their inspirations and intellectual triumphs, and their stubbornly held misconceptions.... With their highly individualistic flair and immense erudition, this volume and its predecessor are not just essential reading for any scientist; they are also landmark volumes in the history of ideas and a brilliant scholarly achievement." - Keith Thomson, Times Higher Education"