In 1793, a canal digger named William Smith made a startling
discovery. He found that by tracing the placement of fossils, which
he uncovered in his excavations, one could follow layers of rocks
as they dipped and rose and fell--clear across England and, indeed,
clear across the world--making it possible, for the first time
ever, to draw a chart of the hidden underside of the earth. Smith
spent twenty-two years piecing together the fragments of this
unseen universe to create an epochal and remarkably beautiful
hand-painted map. But instead of receiving accolades and honors, he
ended up in debtors' prison, the victim of plagiarism, and
virtually homeless for ten years more.
The Map That Changed the World is a very human tale of endurance
and achievement, of one man's dedication in the face of ruin. With
a keen eye and thoughtful detail, Simon Winchester unfolds the
poignant sacrifice behind this world-changing discovery.
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