Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Furthermore, his ideas had evolved considerably from their
formative stage in the 1920s, and it was all beginning to make
a lot more sense. In the end he resolved to face the inevitable
hostility, not something he had ever shirked before, and the very
last chapter of the topic summarised all his most recent ideas
on continental drift.
While approving of his audacity Daly predicted that 'for this
boldness he will doubtless be chastised'. Indeed, he was right.
One reviewer, having highly praised the early part of the topic,
felt that the later section
is more suitable for rather more advanced students who have developed
a capacity to read critically and who are able to distinguish between
attractive theory and fact . . . a beginner may be led away by Professor
Holmes's clear and attractive presentation and fail to notice that he does
not claim that all the opinions expressed in this part are of the same proved
or accepted value as the old-established views given in the earlier parts.
Presumably the 'attractive theory' was continental drift, which
we now know to be fact, and the 'accepted value' was a 5000
mile land bridge, which we now know to be complete fantasy!
Principles of Physical Geology
was published in 1944 and imme-
diately became an international best-seller, despite its rather
high price of thirty shillings. The cumbersome title, chosen as
a tribute to Lyell and his
Principles of Geology
, was soon dropped
by those who bought the topic, and ever since it has been known
more simply and fondly as 'Holmes'. The first print run of three
thousand copies sold out almost immediately and, despite a
paper shortage both during and after the war, it was reprinted
no fewer than eighteen times in twenty years, becoming the geo-
logical bible for generations of geologists. Shortly before his
death Holmes revealed the secret of his phenomenal writing
success in a letter to a friend:
'Mental effort on the part of the
average reader should be reduced to a minimum. To be widely
read in English-speaking countries think of the most stupid
student you have ever had then think how you would explain
the subject to him. It is well worth the additional effort.'
