Principles of Geology

According to Charles Darwin, this book "altered the whole tone of one's mind... when seeing a thing never seen by Lyell, one yet saw it partially through his eyes". A hugely ambitious attempt to forge links between observable causes -- earthquakes, tides, and storms -- and the current state of the earth, Principles of Geology proved crucial in the long-running dispute between science and Scripture. Its clarity, broad sweep, and sheer intellectual passion caught the imagination of Melville, Emerson, and countless readers worldwide. This abridged edition consists largely of complete chapters (with all their illustrations) on topics that have attracted the most discussion: Charles Lyell's theoretical principles, analyses of evolution and ecological issues, and novel techniques for reconstructing the past.