You're Dead to Me Mary Anning (Radio Edit)
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Oct 18, 2024 Dr. Michael Taylor, a 19th-century historian and author, and Sara Pascoe, a comedian and writer, dive into the life of Mary Anning, a groundbreaking paleontologist. They explore her extraordinary fossil discoveries amidst societal challenges as a lower-class woman. With humor, they recount the bizarre lightning strike that may have sparked her brilliance. The discussion highlights the clash of science and religion in her time and underlines the vital yet overlooked contributions of women in paleontology and geology.
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Tragic Childhood
- Mary Anning was one of ten children, but only she and her brother Joseph survived to adulthood.
- Her older sister, also named Mary, died tragically in a fire.
Lightning Strike
- At 14 months old, Mary Anning was struck by lightning.
- The incident was thought to have transformed her from a dull child into a bright one.
Fossil Hunting and Faith
- Mary Anning's father, Richard, supplemented their income by selling fossils.
- This practice tied into the popular 19th-century trend of natural theology, where studying nature was seen as understanding God's work.