Skip to navigation | Skip to main content | Skip to footer
Menu
Search the University of Manchester siteSearch Menu StaffNet

Manchester Museum Book Club

17 Apr 2013

Free drop-in session for adults on Tuesday, 23 April (5.30-6.30pm) at The Manchester Museum

Buy a glass of wine or cup of coffee, meet people and discuss books inspired by the Museum’s new Nature’s Library gallery and brought to life by Museum objects.

This month’s book is Remarkable Creatures by Tracey Chevalier, bringing to life the Museum’s vast collection of fossils through the story of 19th century amateur scientists Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot.

Remarkable Creatures is the story of Mary Anning, who has a talent for finding fossils and whose discovery of ancient marine reptiles, such as the ichthyosaur, shakes the scientific community and leads to new ways of thinking about the creation of the world.

Working in a male dominated scientific establishment however, Mary finds herself out of step with her working-class background. In danger of being an outcast in her own community, she takes solace in an unlikely friendship with Elizabeth Philpot, a London spinster with her own enthusiasm for fossils.

The strong bond between Mary and Elizabeth sees them through struggles with poverty, rivalry and ostracism, as well as the physical dangers of their chosen passion.

The book club will be held on the third Tuesday of each month.

Further information 

To find out more about the Museum: