One of the pleasures of working as the Librarian in the Great North Museum:Hancock Library is that you get to look at all of the wonderful new books that are added to stock.

Ann Spencer, one of the new Library Volunteers, took the opportunity to write a review of David Attenborough’s book, First Life; A journey back in time, that was recently added to stock. Here are her thoughts….

 

This book is based on insights captured during the making of the accompanying TV series, with an introduction by David Attenborough. The book is a chronological account of the story of early life from Pre-Cambrain times to key events during the explosion of life in the Cambrian period. The story of how geologists pieced together the puzzle of how living creatures survived the Ice Age has more in common with a Sherlock Holmes adventure than the work associated with activities in a laboratory.

 

Although the book deals with potentially difficult subject matter the text is well written and accessible to readers who have little specialist scientific knowledge. There are some magnificent photographs including computer generated images of plants and animals extrapolated from their fossils.

 

One of the many delights of this book is the insight it provides into the young David Attenborough’s enthusiasm for fossil hunting, a passion which prompted his interest in the natural world which has given pleasure to so many of us.

Listed below is a selection of some of the other new purchases and donations that have been recently added to the Library. To view the full records please go to NewcastleUniversity’s Library Catalogue.

Breeze, David J (Editor),  200 Years – The Society of Antiquaries Newcastle Upon Tyne 1813 – 2013,   SANT,  2013

Breeze, David J (Editor) The first souvenirs – enamelled vessels from Hadrian’s Wall,Cumberlandand Westmorland Archaeological Society 2012

Clark, Andrew & Nairn, Goerge,  Durham Coal – A people’s history,  People’s History, 2001

Curcic, Slobadon, Architecture as Icon – Perception and representation of architecture in Byzantine art,PrincetonUniversity, 2010

Dennis, Nigel & MacDonald, David Meerkats  A & C Black, 2009

Eilperin, Juliet,  Demon fish  – travels through the hidden world of Sharks, Duckworth, 2012

Gerstel, Sharon & Nelson, Robert,  Approaching theHolyMountain, Brepols,  2010

Grigs, Lucy & Kelly, Gavin (Editors), Two Romes –RomeandConstantinoplein late antiquity, OUP, 2012

Hodder, Ian, The present past – An introduction to anthropology for archaeologists, Batsford, 2012

Liverani, Paolo & Spinola, Giandomenico, The Vatican Necropoles  -Rome’s City of the dead, Brepols, 2010

Moyal, Ann,  Platypus – The extraordinary story of how a curious creature baffled the world, Smithsonian Institute, 2001

Orton, Fred,  Fragments of history – rethinking the Ruthwell andBewcastleMonuments, Manchster University Press,  2007

Pietsch, Oceanic anglerfishes  – extraordinary diversity in the deep sea, University of California, 2009

Prahms, Wendy, Animals inNewcastle  – An illustrated history, Tempus, 2008

Sands, Tim, Wildlife in trust – a hundred years of nature conservation, Wildlife Trusts, 2012

Scott, Bob, The illustrated birdwatcher’s handbook, Bounty, 2012

Smith, Charles H ,  Natural selection and beyond – the intellectual legacy of Alfred Russel Wallace, OUP 2008

Taylor, Neil,  Memories of the Northumberland Coalfields, Countryside Books, 2009

Temple, David,  DurhamMiners’ Millennium Book, TUPS Books

Turner, John ,  Ponteland (Images ofEngland) Tempus,  1999

I hope to see you in the Library soon. Opening hours are 10.00 – 4.00 Monday to Friday.