- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Fourth Estate; 1st Edition edition (5 Aug 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1857029062
- ISBN-13: 978-1857029062
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 13.8 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 530,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This witty account of the current state of play in the search for extant species of the coelacanth, the living fish which may be descended from the ancestors of all land life, starts, as it has to, with Marjorie Latimer, the curator of a small museum, who had been taught her palaeontology by very strict nuns. When a fisherman showed her an odd fish, she instantly recognised it as supposedly extinct for millions of years. Several years later, after endless promises of rewards, the first of many coelacanths was fished out of the sea round the Comoros--they were being thrown back since time immemorial because they are not good eating and have a strongly laxative effect. There followed an unedifying tale of national rivalry--South African and French skulduggery and national pride in dead fish--a risk of a final extinction caused by Chinese herbalists, and discoveries of more fish off Madagascar and Indonesia. Weinberg knows what is important and what is not, but does not let good stories go unnoticed all the same. Her command of the details is impressive--you come away knowing what the excitement was all about. The account is excellent and humane, if cute--and the cliffhangers about extinction and possible other habitats are exciting as well. --Roz Kaveney
Gale Vines, Independent
'A fascinating tale that mixes scientific intrigue, international politics and adventures on the high seas'
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First Sentence
December in East London is hot and humid. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
December in East London is hot and humid. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The story of the discovery of the coelacanth, the fish that was previously only known through fossil records. I didn't think I was interested dinosaurs or natural history, but I read this book on the basis of another review, and I'm glad I did. The story is quite a complex one, from the excitement of the incredibly lucky, accidental discovery of the coelacanth in the 1930's, to, sadly, its over-exploitation today. It's horrific that man's greed and interference might lead to the extinction of an animal that has quite simply been minding its own business for the last fifty million years. This well-written, fascinating book is interesting for both the story that it tells and the wider issues that it touches on.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book deserves the same level of accolade as accompanies Longitude, it is a superbly told human story of the rediscovery of the Coelacanth. This is the modern day (20th Century) equivalent of a genuine Jurassic park, on a smaller scale of course. Well written, engaging narrative and told from the human rather than scientific side, although the science is in no way ignored. This book was a pure delight to read and really had me turning the pages faster than virtually any other popular science book I have read in recent years.
Format:Paperback
There's a lot in this book, and also a lot that isn't. It is about the search for the Coelacanth and has very little about the beast itself, which is a shame.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Finding the "Living Fossil"
This is the modern history of the discovery of living Coelacanths (pronounced `seel-uh-kanths'). Since there have been exciting developments since 1998, it serves as a background... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Peter Buckley
My perfect read
If like me you go for fact over fiction I strongly recommend this book. I read it soon after it was published and can still recall vividly the pleasure of reading it. Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2004 by M Gill
A cracking read!
A thoroughly entertaining account of the remarkable story of the discovery of the coelacanth from the 1930s right up to the modern day. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2003 by R. P. Sedgwick
A well-written overview of the hunt for the coelacanth
Good history, good writing but anyone expecting a science book will be disappointed (but will still enjoy this book)
Published on 22 April 2001 by Richard Laven
Exciting an interesting read, let down by poor science
This is an exciting and interesting read. It tells a gripping story of the people who hunted for the fish that many thought had died with the dinosaurs. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2000
great story, very educational, impressively written
from someone who doesn't care too much for science, this book has been an absolute gem. facinating and very well told. would recommend this book without reservation.
Published on 14 July 2000
fascinating account of evolution and adventure
At first I thought the way this book was written (ie; simplified journalistic style) would grate on my nerves throughout the book. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2000 by "lucy3481"
A fantastic piece of history well told
Weinberg has written a book that shows her talent as a good story-teller. And found a fantastic piece of history to prove her talent.
Published on 19 Mar 2000
Wow
I guess that I could be classed as privileged at having been very close to the Coelacanth story during my early years, and still am to some extent. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 1999
Science turned into an adventure, I couldn't put it down
I heard of this book in the Radio 5 interview of Samantha by Nick Price on Dirty Tackle. The conversation was so interesting that I thought that I should read the book. Read more
Published on 25 Sep 1999 by lawrie.rumens@btinternet.com
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