The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning

by Sheila Cole, T. C. Farrow (Illustrator)

"I scraped off the wet clay with mounting excitement. There was no mistaking what I saw." What Mary Anning found in the cliffs in 1811, when she was 13, was the first complete fossil of an ichthyosaurus, a marine dinosaur. She hunted and sold fossils to save her family from poverty after her father died when she was 11 years old. Despite social disapproval of her unfeminine occupation, Mary persisted and became a leading fossilist who made valuable contributions to science.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.


This author also writes as: Sheila R. Cole - Psychology

see also: Sheila Cole - Illustrator

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although the general writing style of Sheila Cole's The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning is indeed very much readable and Mary Anning's first person narration delightfully engaging, I have now and with very much massive frustration and personal annoyance decided to stop my perusal at the depiction of Richard Anning's death (and to abandon The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning as yet another "could not be bothered to finish" books).

For while Mary Anning's father, for while Richard Anning did indeed (and as stated in The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning) die in November 1810, Mary Anning was in fact not eleven but actually already twelve years of age when her father died. But furthermore and considerably more problematically for me, author Sheila Cole also has Richard Anning in The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning dying almost immediately after his accident, after he falls off of a cliff whilst collecting fossils (or what were then called curiosities), which actually is a total and strangely fantastical fabrication, since Richard Anning's accident in fact happened quite a number of years prior to his demise (which was caused by tuberculosis and the lingering after-effects of his accident).

Therefore, Richard Anning did not and like Sheila Cole attempts to show in The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning Succumb just a few hours after he had been brought home after having been found lying prostrate on the beach after his fall, and for Sheila Cole to play with legitimate and hard core historical fact dates in such a callous manner, yes indeed, this has totally infuriated me and enough so to not only abandon The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning with no regrets whatsoever but to also only consider but a one star ranking at best. Because even though The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning is of course supposed to be a work of historical fiction, it is still based on the specific facts of Mary Anning's life, and in my opinion, any historical dates should have been untouchable.

And considering that Sheila Cole more than likely had Richard Cole perish immediately after his accident for dramatics and for so-called shock and awe values, well for me, that is actually just another reason to not consider The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel Based on the Life of Mary Anning as worthwhile continuing with (as needing to make Mary Anning's life even more tragic and complicated than it already was by altering factual dates is really majorly annoying to and for me and also kind of a bit of an insult to both Mary Anning's life and to her career and her many novel to science achievements).

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one night and morning. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I've read an adult book and a picture-book already about her, but I wish I'd started with this because it really does seem like plenty. It's a great story, and I found it engaging and gracefully told. Inspiring, too!

I wish that I had more to say to encourage others to read it, but all I can think of is that children interested in science might like it the most, especially girls who have challenges at home that they need to overcome, as this might be biblio-therapeutic.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there had been an explanation as to why this girl is depicted wearing what looks like a man's top hat! Is this a Cornish custom? Great fictional biography. Based on the description of how often the cliffs crumble into landslides, its a wonder there's any Lyme Regis left.

[LauraW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very appealing introduction to paleontology.

[Martyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter was enraptured with this book, and I had selected it to read from a memory of it being read to us at school many years ago. An easy and accessible story.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book even if it is older. It is based her life as a fossil hunter.

[Josie Newbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon in the Cliffs

One of the many books written about Mary Anning. This one told of her early years as a fossil collector and the hardships she faced.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very exiting