Awards

• Winner of Research Category (UK).

Overview

WINNER OF THE RESEARCH CATEGORY IN SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2023 This edition of The Old Red Sandstone is the first truly new one for a century. It comes in two volumes: Volume 2 reprints the original, and now rare, first edition in facsimile with notes and glossary. Volume 1 explores how Miller wrote his book and why it was so important. Ross-shire born polymath Hugh Miller (1802-56), self-taught stonemason, geologist and writer, was famous in his lifetime across the English-speaking world. On one level, The Old Red Sandstone is a description of the geology of Cromarty, Ross-shire, with diversions into its scenery, history and folklore, but it is also an autobiographical memoir and work of literature. It was enormously popular on its first publication in 1841. The editors have combined their expertise – in history, English literature, Celtic languages and culture (Ralph O’ Connor) and palaeontology, museums, history of geology (Michael A Taylor) – to annotate the text of this most idiosyncratic book for a new generation of readers, and to provide a critical study. In a pre-Darwinian era, Hugh Miller reconciled his geological knowledge with his religious beliefs and his reader-friendly writings encouraged in others an interest in fossils. His writings are, as novelist James Robertson says in the Foreword, still very readable and relevant today.    

Full Product Details

9781910682258

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Reviews

'A critical study of Hugh Miller’s nineteenth-century geological writings, this two-volume set delivers a great deal of collective wisdom couched in impressively elegant prose.' Judges of the Research category in Scotland's National Book Awards 2023 in announcing The Old Red Sandstone as the winner.

Author Information

Ross-shire-born Hugh Miller (1802-56), self-taught stonemason, geologist and writer, was famous in his lifetime across the English-speaking world. A social commentator and crusader, he also, pre-Darwin, inspired in others an interest in fossils. This two-volume set of books include a facsimile edition of his classic The Old Red Sandstone, first published in 1841. Dr Michael A. Taylor is Research Associate, Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, and Visiting Research Fellow, School of Museum Studies, University of Leicester. He is the author of the biography Hugh Miller: Stonemason, Geologist, Writer and he edited the facsimile edition of Hugh Miller's The Cruise of the Betsey with Rambles of a Geologist, both published by NMSE – Publishing. Professor Ralph O' Connor is Professor in the Literature and Culture of Britain, Ireland and Iceland, University of Aberdeen.

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