Victorians and the Prehistoric

When one considers the sheer amount of rock and earth that the Victorians excavated as they criss-crossed Britain with railways and canals, it is hardly surprising that they became fascinated by the fossils, bones and man-made treasures that they happened upon. This well-presented and very readable study examines the Victorian fascination with their unfathomable past and the fear and religious insecurity that accompanied their quest to uncover more. Supported by contemporary illustrations, often in colour, including paintings, sketches, plans, elevations and portraits, Freeman's book explores the Victorian understanding of the extent of time based on the discovery of geological strata, the dinosaur craze that followed some spectacular discoveries on the southern coast, and the ways in which Victorians sought to reconcile Biblical events (notably the Deluge) with the geological record. Finally Freeman considers the establishment of the first museums, modelled upon Europe's great cathedrals, and their ground-breaking collections.