Impossible Monsters

"As hard as it is to imagine, there was a time when humans had no idea that dinosaurs and other primeval beasts once ruled the world. In this stunning work of popular history, historian Michael Taylor shows how the discovery of dinosaurs triggered a domino effect that shook the foundations of western culture, and loosened the grip of traditional Biblical values on British society. This is a book of surprises and revelations, as Taylor shows how dinosaurs, fossils, and evolution reshaped our views of our own humanity. Scholarly yet accessible, erudite and quirky, this is a most engrossing account of science, history, religion, culture, and yes, dinosaurs, all woven together into an epic tale of how Britain modernized in the 19th century." - Steve Brusatte, New York Times best-selling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

"This book confirms what I've suspected for a while, that Michael Taylor is the most talented young historian around. This book dazzles in its originality and there is something you want to commit to memory on every page. A triumph." - Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland

"A sweeping account of the discovery of dinosaurs and the horrifying depths of time, and their impact on god-fearing Victorians. Taylor marches us with panache from Bishop Ussher's impossibly young world to today's incomprehensibly old planet. We feel the awe and fright across society as the vast reptilian empires are brought to light." - Adrian Desmond, author of Darwin's Sacred Cause

"An account of the discovery of deep time that is as thrilling as it is sweeping, populated by a brilliantly drawn cast of characters, and vivid with a Mesozoic bestiary." - Tom Holland, best-selling author of Pax