An intimate biography of the Natural History Museum, celebrating the eccentric personalities who have peopled it and capturing the wonders of scientific endeavour, academic rigour and imagination. From the author of "The Earth" and "Life", which were both shortlisted for the Aventis Prize for Science. Fortey was senior palaeontologist at the museum until his retirement in 2006. 'Richard Fortey is without peer among science writers.' Bill Bryson