As a geologist and science writer I've always felt that the best way to engage non-specialists in your specialist subject is to start with the familiar before moving into the obscure. And to my mind, references to everyday objects and, especially, the history behind them, often provides a very good jumping off point. In
Underlands, A journey through Britain's Lost Landscape, Ted Nield, draws on his own personal and family history to introduce what might be considered the more 'industrial' side of geology. It's a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers, whether or not they have a background in geoscience.
In chapters focusing on quarries, mining and gravestones, Nield deftly combines geological information, with history, politics, philosophy and personal memoir to highlight the important role geology plays in so many practical aspects of our lives. In these times when many would argue that the new style Earth Sciences departments relegate geology to a minor role – if not ignore it altogether – the book also serves as a wake-up call to remind us of what we stand to lose if students are not introduced to geological field work and exposed to 'real rocks'.
For those of us who, like Nield, studied geology at UK universities in the late 1970s and early 1980s, then honed our skills working in the oil industry during the heady days of the North Sea boom, this book is also a wonderful trip down memory lane. How I remember the culture shock I felt when I left university life behind and entered the corporate world as an exploration geologist working in the North Sea. And oh, the ordeal of those company Christmas parties and business lunches! Nield's colourful description of his own experiences took me right back. But while my memories of corporate life make me cringe, Nield has put his to better use – as a clever way of introducing the story of the Rubislaw granite quarry near Aberdeen.
As in his earlier books, Supercontinent and Incoming!, Nield incorporates a wide range of historical and literary references into his fluent prose, and relies on anecdotes – some very moving and others very amusing -- to tell his stories. But with this book Nield goes a step further and also reveals more of his own personality and family history. It all makes for a great read. Were they still alive, his parents would have been very proud.
Reviewed by: Nina Morgan. Nina is currently working on a book about the Geology of Gravestones.
UNDERLANDS – A JOURNEY THROUGH BRITAIN’s LOST LANDSCAPE by TED NIELD Published by: Granta Books, May 2014 288pp hbk ISBN: 9781847086716£20.00. This book is available through the Geological Society Bookshop.