From ancient volcanos and deserts to long-forgotten seas, a spotter’s guide to the Britain beneath your feet
The Lie of the Land
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'Hidden beneath the surface of the British Landscape lie clues that enable geologists to reconstruct the distant past. From the red desert sands beneath Devon, to the Scottish Rocks that are older than the moon, this fascinating book takes us back through the ages on a tour of a hidden land that time forgot.'
--Waterstone's Books Quarterly
'Anyone who has ever picked up a pebble at the seaside or a rock on a moorland path will find invaluable Ian Vince's geological guide... you will understand the area round your British holiday cottage far more deeply than before.' --Giles Foden (Author of The Last King of Scotland), Condé Nast Traveller
'Takes the reader on an explosive journey across millenia. Continents glide thousands of miles like contestants in Strictly Come Dancing, Scotland swelters on the Equator and Snowdonia boasts a volcanic ring of fire with mountains taller than Everest.' --Daily Express
'The English Channel is a relatively recent addition to the landscape, caused by two enormous floods which took place 450,000 and 200,000 years ago respectively, as huge, glacier-fed lakes burst their banks. Had it not been for these two inundations, Vince muses, the history of Britain - and even the world - could have turned out very differently...'
--The Scotsman
'Far from a dry, scholarly tome, The Lie of the Land is brim full of facts dressed up in a lively narrative more akin to a fictional adventure. Ian is a passionate soul and natural wordsmith.' --Western Morning News
'The ancient Highlands and islands of Scotland, with their fascinating granite landscape, and the old red sandstone of the Devonian periot are all firmly related to our lives... Vince animates the inanimate.' --The Field
`A reader friendly and informative study.'
--Geographical Magazine
'This good-humoured, eminently readable little book is intended to enthuse readers about Britain's unusually rich and varied geology. It does that job remarkably well, evoking the special magic of unique landscapes that urban sprawl and mass tourism haven't yet spoiled. It certainly made me want to jump into the car and go see for myself some of the places it so vividly describes... You'll be impressed at how much of Britain's geology and scenery you can enjoy just by pulling over at the right spot.' --Dales Life magazine
--Waterstone's Books Quarterly
'Anyone who has ever picked up a pebble at the seaside or a rock on a moorland path will find invaluable Ian Vince's geological guide... you will understand the area round your British holiday cottage far more deeply than before.' --Giles Foden (Author of The Last King of Scotland), Condé Nast Traveller
'Takes the reader on an explosive journey across millenia. Continents glide thousands of miles like contestants in Strictly Come Dancing, Scotland swelters on the Equator and Snowdonia boasts a volcanic ring of fire with mountains taller than Everest.' --Daily Express
'The English Channel is a relatively recent addition to the landscape, caused by two enormous floods which took place 450,000 and 200,000 years ago respectively, as huge, glacier-fed lakes burst their banks. Had it not been for these two inundations, Vince muses, the history of Britain - and even the world - could have turned out very differently...'
--The Scotsman
'Far from a dry, scholarly tome, The Lie of the Land is brim full of facts dressed up in a lively narrative more akin to a fictional adventure. Ian is a passionate soul and natural wordsmith.' --Western Morning News
'The ancient Highlands and islands of Scotland, with their fascinating granite landscape, and the old red sandstone of the Devonian periot are all firmly related to our lives... Vince animates the inanimate.' --The Field
`A reader friendly and informative study.'
--Geographical Magazine
'This good-humoured, eminently readable little book is intended to enthuse readers about Britain's unusually rich and varied geology. It does that job remarkably well, evoking the special magic of unique landscapes that urban sprawl and mass tourism haven't yet spoiled. It certainly made me want to jump into the car and go see for myself some of the places it so vividly describes... You'll be impressed at how much of Britain's geology and scenery you can enjoy just by pulling over at the right spot.' --Dales Life magazine
Book Description
'Takes the reader on an explosive journey across millenia. Continents glide thousands of miles like contestants in Strictly Come Dancing, Scotland swelters on the Equator and Snowdonia boasts a volcanic ring of fire with mountains taller than Everest' Daily Express Like most of us, Ian Vince used to think of the British countryside as average, unexciting - as dramatic as a nice cup of tea. Then, over the course of a single car journey, the features of our green and pleasant land reawakened a fascination with geology that he had long forgotten, and he began to delve beneath the surface (metaphorically, that is). From the ancient rocks of north-west Scotland to St Michael's Mount off the coast of Cornwall, The Lie of the Land takes us on a journey through a fantastically exotic Britain of red desert sands, shattering continental collisions and tides of volcanic lava. Ian Vince shows us how Britain came to look the way it does; and with warmth and wit transports us back through billions of years to a land that time forgot. 'Anyone who has ever picked up a pebble at the seaside or a rock on a moorland path will find invaluable Ian Vince's geological guide... you will understand the area round your British holiday cottage far more deeply than before' Giles Foden (author of The Last King of Scotland), Condé Nast Travelle
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By S. Brickhill
Format:Hardcover
An interesting change to Ian Vince's usual (and always amusing) books. The Lie of the Land approaches the geology of the British Isles in a most digestable way. He manages to circumvent confusing geological terminology by gently explaining everything with inputs of gentle humour, and more than the occasional cup of tea. By linking in with the associated website, you can see fantastic features of the British Landscape caught on photo to accompany the detailed workings of their formation explained in the book itself. Easy to read, this book is a MUST for anyone and everyone that has ever looked at the British views and wondered "how did that get to be so beautiful?". The only negative point I could make: I'm now boring the socks off everyone by excitedly explaining the Lie of the (more local) Land, now that I understand how it all came to pass! Sorry, everyone. Read the book, it's better at explaining it than me! (and more interesting!)
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Excellent book firmly aimed at the novice or those with scant knowledge of the subject (me) well wriiten and easy on the noggin, has made me appreciate the countryside even more now and there are places I wish to go purely to observe the geology! Would have been so much more rewrding if there were photos of the scenes being discussed.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
An easy read for the general reader wanting to find out about the geology of Britain and how the land has changed over the centuries.
Pity there's no index. A glossary is provided.
Pity there's no index. A glossary is provided.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
walking
i enjoyed this book as we are doing a lot of walking and i like to know what's under my feet!!
Published 3 months ago by Mrs L Newton
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Lie of the Land
A very readable insight into the geology of Britain. It is good to have a book for laypeople explaining this important aspect of our green and pleasant land.
Published 21 months ago by Michael Hutchinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent primer and guide book
I had been intending to buy a copy of The Lie of the Land for ages. I am a founder member of the British Landscape Club - no, really! Read more
Published 21 months ago by Snaptophobic
4.0 out of 5 stars
the lie of the land
It was a gift. However on looking through the book quickly it seemed very interesting and was appropriate for the person I gave the book to.
Published 21 months ago by studiopaintbrush
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Book to Read Again and Again
An enjoyable romp through the Eons, looking at the geology of the British Isles, aimed at novices to geology. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Martyn Davies
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but could be better
This is a non-technical guide to the geology of Britain: how it was formed, how it shapes the landscape and (to a lesser extent) how it affects recent human history. Read more
Published on 25 May 2011 by J. Evans
1.0 out of 5 stars
British Isles???
I was just about to click on the 'Buy with one click ' button to buy this book, being very interested in the topic, and having read the good reviews on the book, when I noticed... Read more
Published on 9 May 2011 by E. C. S. Sanchez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great introduction to geology for non geologists
Ever wondered why the land looks as it does, but never known? This book takes through the geological periods in an interesting and informative way. Read more
Published on 4 May 2011 by P. Shelley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
Have only read a few chapters of The Lie of The Land but it is extremely well written and informative. I would recommended this book.
Published on 13 Feb 2011 by claire89
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