A voyage of discovery, two remarkable women, and an extraordinary time and place enrich this New York Times bestselling novel by Tracy Chevalier, author of At the Edge of the Orchard and Girl With a Pearl Earring. On the windswept, fossil-strewn beaches of the English coast, poor and uneducated Mary Anning learns that she has a unique gift: "the eye" to spot fossils no one else can see. When she uncovers an unusual fossilized skeleton in the cliffs near her home, she sets the religious community on edge, the townspeople to gossip, and the scientific world alight. After enduring bitter cold, thunderstorms, and landslips, her challenges only grow when she falls in love with an impossible man. Mary soon finds an unlikely champion in prickly Elizabeth Philpot, a middle-class spinster who shares her passion for scouring the beaches. Their relationship strikes a delicate balance between fierce loyalty, mutual appreciation, and barely suppressed envy, but ultimately turns out to be their greatest asset. Remarkable Creatures is a stunning historical novel that follows the story of two extraordinary 19th century fossil hunters who changed the scientific world forever.
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"I really loved this book. Tracy Chevalier is a great author, and I like reading about different time periods. I thought it was based on real people as I was reading it - not sure now... I wonder how science and religious groups really dealt with the discovery of extinct species - was it a threat? "
— Julie (4 out of 5 stars)
“Each of these two characters tells a first-person story, and Susan Lyons gives Elizabeth Philpot the diction, reserve, subdued tones, and poise expected of a gentlewoman and shades her with idiosyncrasies, passions, and palpable loneliness. Charlotte Parry is convincing as a callow, coarse Mary Anning, and listeners will witness her gradual maturing and refinement as the story unfolds.”
— Publishers Weekly (audio review)“Superbly creating a unique setting, as she did in The Girl with a Pearl Earring, Chevalier captures the atmosphere of a chilly, blustery coast and an oppressive social hierarchy in real Dickensian fashion.”
— Library Journal“Mary and Elizabeth thrive, and the novel glories in their substantial achievements against considerable odds. Shines a light on women usually excluded from history-and on the simple pleasures of friendship.”
— Kirkus Reviews“This charming story will certainly appeal to lovers of Jane Austen and natural history.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars)" This book was okay. Nothing special but it's a good read. "
— Louise, 2/17/2014" Very slow. Hard to make myself finish it. "
— Jen, 2/15/2014" This is a sweet little book. The characters are fleshed out and engaging and I got a kick out of the focus, with the famous figures of Buckland, Conybere, Cuvier and Lyell secondary to the quiet lives of the female fossil hunters. "
— Kate, 2/11/2014" I did not like this quite as much as Girl With a Pearl Earring, but it was engaging enough to finish in a couple of days. I would have liked to see drawings or maps included since she spends so much time discussing the types of fossils and the places where the characters found them. Although Chevalier takes some liberty with events and conversations, the story is plausible and interesting. "
— Jeannette, 2/9/2014" Simply fascinating. I love Tracy Chevalier's style, research. Found out later that this is a true story about real women. "
— Judystitches, 2/7/2014" A good reminder about the many women involved in so many "discoveries" that men were given credit for - a novel based on the true story of young Mary Anning, who, on the English coast in the early 1800s, scouted for "curies" (curiosities) to sell to help keep her family fed. Her keen eye and patience with digging fossils out of the cliffs on the beach (and a bit of support from a local "spinster")made her popular with the geologists and naturalists, but made her an object of suspicion by her fellow villagers, who saw her discoveries as casting doubts on their beliefs about God's intact creations. A good read about the efforts of Mary's supporter to get Mary the recognition she deserved. "
— Laurel, 2/1/2014" Interesting but slow moving "
— Karin, 1/25/2014" This was a slow read but I still enjoyed getting to know the characters "
— Pamela, 1/25/2014" I enjoyed the historical aspect of this book "
— Lindzie, 1/20/2014" Although the going was slow at first, I found myself swept up in the times and lives of the two main characters and subordinate characters as well "
— Bob, 1/17/2014" Didn't know if I would get into this book, but I did and actually kept looking forward to picking it up each night. Glad I decided to read it. "
— Robyn, 8/31/2013Tracy Chevalier is the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has been translated into forty-three languages and made into an Oscar-nominated film. A Single Thread was named a Best Book of the Year by Time, USA Today, and seven other media.
Charlotte Parry is an actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator. She made her Broadway debut in the 2000 Tony Award–winning revival of The Real Thing and has also appeared in stage productions of As You Like It, Pygmalion, and The Importance of Being Earnest. She has performed in several Broadway plays, including the revival of The Winslow Boy and The Importance of Being Earnest.
Susan Lyons has appeared on numerous television shows, including A Country Practice, Police Rescue, Something in the Air, and All Saints. Among her film credits are Winds of Jarrah and In a Savage Land. She is married to Tony Award–winning actor Jefferson Mays.