Remarkable Creatures – Tracey Chevalier
Remarkable Creatures is one of those wonderful books where the author is deliberately writing fiction, and never claiming that it is anything but, but she is basing that fiction on a lesser known historical figure and in turn not just bringing that figure to life, but reviving interest in that figure in a way that a straight history never could. This book is about Mary Anning, arguably the greatest fossil hunter ever. Unfortunately, Mary was at some serious disadvantages in her field. She was working class and uneducated, she was young and, biggest problem of all at the turn of the 19th Century – she was a woman.
This book is written alternately from the view of Mary and from the view of Elizabeth Philpot, a name who very few people would remember, but who was hugely instrumental in Mary’s success. One of the things I loved about this novel is that the author didn’t just revive a poorly known figure, she also saw to it that she gained some of the credit for her work at a time when she was almost invisible.
The problem with both Elizabeth and Mary is they were both women who had a fascination with something scientific and who never married. Elizabeth was a sad case of an unattractive woman who, having been unable to find a husband by 22, was rendered a spinster who would never marry and would only ever be a burden to her brother. She and her two sisters were moved to Lyme Regis to effectively get them out of the way of society, and it was there that she met Elizabeth – uncouth, uneducated, but with an incredible ability to spot fossils.
This book pokes at a lot of things which I really loved. From criticisms of 19th Century society to criticisms of Jane Austen, Chevalier strips the romanticism of the period bare. Elizabeth Bennett was truly privileged in comparison to Elizabeth Philpot – and I suspect the story of the latter was far more prevalent than Austen’s dewy eyed romanticism would have you believe. Also, of all of the men who appear in Remarkable Creatures, not one of them presents well. From the ignorant patronising airs of the churchmen who refused to acknowledge anything which could cast doubt on the Bible, and scorned the questioning of a mere woman, through to the arrogance of the other fossil hunters and the cruelty of characters like the Captain, who’s privileged status as a male gave him licence to do what he liked without any particular thought for the women he affected living beneath onerous societal conventions.
This is as much a book about science, Darwin, the shaking of belief, determination and passion as it is about feminism and success against all odds. I found myself at times angry, at other times saddened (and feeling very lucky to live when I do), and still at other times cheering for Elizabeth’s determination and Mary’s skill. I am so pleased that Chevalier thought to bring these two women to life, as they have both touched me in their separate ways.
The fascination with fossils and the questions they raise is one which ought to be done and dusted in the 21st century and it amazes me that there are still people with the ignorant attitude of the pastor in Remarkable Creatures. When something like nature is so beautiful and breathtaking in its age and development, why would anyone want to deny it? It just makes no sense. Oddly, reading this historical novel makes you realise that although we have come a long way since Mary and Elizabeth scoured the beaches of Lyme Regis for ‘curies’, we still haven’t come far enough.
I am almost finished reading this book and have been unable to put it down. It is spellbinding and makes me long to visit Lyme Regis. I have read all Tracey Chevalier’s other books adn have loved them all. She is an amazing author.
I highly recommend this book.
Booktiger, please note: in your third paragraph, the reference to Elizabeth should read Mary.