Set in 1876, the story follows William Johnson, a wealthy Yale student who joins a fossil-hunting expedition to the American West. He becomes caught in the Bone Wars, a fierce historical rivalry between paleontologists Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. As Johnson travels through dangerous territories in Montana and Wyoming, he faces hostile environment conditions, tribal conflicts, and the ruthless sabotage practiced by the two scientists. The plot centers on the discovery of rare dinosaur teeth and Johnson’s struggle to survive while protecting his scientific finds from thieves and rivals.
Readers interested in the intersection of paleontology and Western history will find a detailed look at early scientific field methods and pioneer lawlessness. The book suits those who enjoy historical fiction grounded in documented academic feuds and territorial disputes. A reader walks away with a clear understanding of the professional obsession that fueled the Gilded Age's greatest fossil discoveries and the physical risks required to establish the first major dinosaur collections in American museums.
Practical, outward-looking, growth-minded, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2017
- Language
- EN
