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The Gilded Dinosaur- The Fossil War Between E.D. Cope and O.C. Marsh and the Rise of American Science by Mark Jaffe
Feuds are common to all fields of human endeavor, but only scientists see them as integral to their work. Scientific progress is always contentious, as we are reminded by science writer Mark Jaffe in The Gilded Dinosaur, his delightful examination of the well-known war between paleontologists Edward Cope and O.C. Marsh in the context of the development of American science. Jaffe has delved deeply into the historical record to illuminate these large personalities and their struggle for access to physical and political territory on which to build their competing scientific empires. Fossil-hunting was inextricably linked with the expansion into the West, the explosion of industrial capitalism, and the new expression of America's status as a world power. Cope and Marsh, in part through their competition for scarce financial and scientific resources, forced the United States to build a scientific establishment combining elements of the public and private sectors. Jaffe is careful with his details; though there are many of them, they always illustrate his themes and portraits rather than distracting from them. Instead of reproducing the legendary protracted newspaper battle in its entirety, he samples a few headlines and paragraphs, then explores the motives and reactions of the principals. Cope comes across as far more sympathetic than Marsh, but the reader is left with the sense that this reflects historical truth more than journalistic bias. How can you take two egos, thousands of tons of rocks and bones, and make a scientific infrastructure so sturdy that today's schoolchildren grow up with Apatasaurus? The Gilded Dinosaur explains it all. --Rob Lightner
Hardcover
First published March 7, 2000
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April 15, 2016
When it was first suggested that I read this volume I was resistant, as I had already read Lanham’s The Bone Hunters and felt I had been sufficiently schooled in the Cope/Marsh dinosaur fossils “war”. While Lanham’s book did a good job of introducing the battle, it was a mere shadow of what, according to this volume, actually occurred and what were the ramifications of those actions. As is true with all books dealing with history or historical events, there are many names, dates, events that are mentioned in both books and such information can be tedious and cause the book to get “bogged down.” When, however, they are mentioned in a context of clear timeline, the breadth and significance of those names/dates/events connect “then” with “now” in a manner that is surprising and enlightening. Mr. Jaffe is to be commended for doing such in as concise manner.
Edward Drinker Cope was reared in a prosperous shipping family near Philadelphia. His Quaker parents instilled in him an ethic of hard work, intelligence, piety and devotion to task that was to serve him well in his life. Othniel Charles Marsh was born into modest means in the Northwest New York town of Lockport. Because of his innate curiosity, superior intellect and the generosity of his uncle, financier George Peabody, he was able to study at Yale and THE centers of learning in Europe. Both men were of vast intelligence, strong wills and egos that seem to be connected to such traits. Initially, they were collegial if not colleagues in their interest in the budding field of Paleontology. As their careers began to bloom, the desire to be recognized for their contributions likewise grew. What began, on both their parts, as a desire to learn and expand a new field grew to be one of the most famous, vicious and, in terms of present day science, beneficial feuds in history.
Both men began gathering dinosaur bones when doing so meant risking: being starved in the wilderness of the Western U.S., die from heat stroke, killed by Indians or lost in a land that was in charted and unfriendly. What they discovered, between the efforts of both, were some of the richest fossil beds in the world. Because they were the first to discover said bones, they earned the right to name the animal to which the bones belonged and there was the battle line of their war. So many bones, from so many prehistoric animals were being found in various locations in such a relative short time that they were soon at odds over “who found what, when.” As a result of their challenging each other, and the science they were helping to expand, their scientific papers became the standard of the field. The preciseness and definitive nature of their work continues to influence the fields of paleontology, geology, botany and ornithology to this day.
Had either Dr. Marsh or Dr. Cope allowed themselves to step outside of their egos long enough to catch a glimpse of what they could do had they worked together, their discoveries would have multiplied exponentially. Cope was a visionary who possessed a gift for writing exact papers detailing what he has found. Marsh was a gifted administrator whose drive and determination played a large part in bringing a mysterious science into the popular mainstream. Both were gifted in their ability to discover bones that had been hidden for so long that time had yet to be invented when first they were laid down. Their bravery and determination were shown to be needed in making America a world leader in Science and scientific research.
Perhaps their decade’s long feud was needed to bring about such sweeping advancements in science. Had not each goaded the other to expand their reach in order to “win” an undeclared war, they would not have demanded so much of themselves and of their discipline. Whatever the case, the benefits brought about by these two academic giants can still be felt in every natural history display or dinosaur movie/book present today. Their discoveries brought light areas of evolution, physiology, philosophy and theology that are the basis of much of our present day knowledge. Such are the gifts of their war.
Edward Drinker Cope was reared in a prosperous shipping family near Philadelphia. His Quaker parents instilled in him an ethic of hard work, intelligence, piety and devotion to task that was to serve him well in his life. Othniel Charles Marsh was born into modest means in the Northwest New York town of Lockport. Because of his innate curiosity, superior intellect and the generosity of his uncle, financier George Peabody, he was able to study at Yale and THE centers of learning in Europe. Both men were of vast intelligence, strong wills and egos that seem to be connected to such traits. Initially, they were collegial if not colleagues in their interest in the budding field of Paleontology. As their careers began to bloom, the desire to be recognized for their contributions likewise grew. What began, on both their parts, as a desire to learn and expand a new field grew to be one of the most famous, vicious and, in terms of present day science, beneficial feuds in history.
Both men began gathering dinosaur bones when doing so meant risking: being starved in the wilderness of the Western U.S., die from heat stroke, killed by Indians or lost in a land that was in charted and unfriendly. What they discovered, between the efforts of both, were some of the richest fossil beds in the world. Because they were the first to discover said bones, they earned the right to name the animal to which the bones belonged and there was the battle line of their war. So many bones, from so many prehistoric animals were being found in various locations in such a relative short time that they were soon at odds over “who found what, when.” As a result of their challenging each other, and the science they were helping to expand, their scientific papers became the standard of the field. The preciseness and definitive nature of their work continues to influence the fields of paleontology, geology, botany and ornithology to this day.
Had either Dr. Marsh or Dr. Cope allowed themselves to step outside of their egos long enough to catch a glimpse of what they could do had they worked together, their discoveries would have multiplied exponentially. Cope was a visionary who possessed a gift for writing exact papers detailing what he has found. Marsh was a gifted administrator whose drive and determination played a large part in bringing a mysterious science into the popular mainstream. Both were gifted in their ability to discover bones that had been hidden for so long that time had yet to be invented when first they were laid down. Their bravery and determination were shown to be needed in making America a world leader in Science and scientific research.
Perhaps their decade’s long feud was needed to bring about such sweeping advancements in science. Had not each goaded the other to expand their reach in order to “win” an undeclared war, they would not have demanded so much of themselves and of their discipline. Whatever the case, the benefits brought about by these two academic giants can still be felt in every natural history display or dinosaur movie/book present today. Their discoveries brought light areas of evolution, physiology, philosophy and theology that are the basis of much of our present day knowledge. Such are the gifts of their war.
April 11, 2013
This review has been revised and can now be found at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud! It's an excellent drama of hatred, rivalry and old bones.
March 27, 2016
It was interesting and full of information but I'm just glad its done. I am not unhappy that I read it but it was not quite what I was looking for.
I think I wanted a story about what it was like out on a field site in the early days of digging up dinosaur bones in America. This book was that in a small way but much, much more! More than I wanted to know. A great history lesson, just very very dry.
I think I wanted a story about what it was like out on a field site in the early days of digging up dinosaur bones in America. This book was that in a small way but much, much more! More than I wanted to know. A great history lesson, just very very dry.
December 17, 2020
I learned about this book through a podcast episode about rivalries... Marsh and Cope were featured. The episode intrigued me enough to acquire Jaffe's work, and I am glad it did! I'm not sure I expected such a deep dive into the politics of the era, but the whole thing is fascinating.
October 9, 2023
The Short Answer
A fascinating journey into the early birth of American Science and the frontiers of paleontology. The author does an excellent job building the world and sorting through the politics of the time to give a sense of why this was such a big deal.
While sometimes a bit bogged down with information, it never fails to maintain interest and is a solid read for anyone with an interest in the era.
The Long Answer
I picked this up after reading The Dinosaur Hunters, a book which deals with the initial discovery of dinosaurs in England and the birth of paleontology and geology. This book serves as a perfect sequel of sorts, taking place almost immediately afterwards and with a few of the same faces appearing. Seeing the contrast between the English and American experiences is particularly fascinating.
The picture it paints of America at the time is vivid and compelling, and really helps set the scene. Given how rapidly America was changing this is an ongoing challenge that the book is always up for. Despite all of this, the book generally does and excellent job of not straying too far from the battles of Cope and Marsh. There were some times where I felt some of the proceedings could have been condensed, but it never stopped being interesting.
If I had any issue with the book, it's that the dinosaurs start to take a backseat to the story near the end. This is not really a fault of the author's, simply an issue that after almost 100 years they were no longer a new shock to society. This leaves the back half of the book dealing more with personal feuds, which are still quite interesting, especially given the rest of the politics surrounding them. How Marsh and Cope's war managed to directly affect how the US Government planned to manage and irrigate the arid parts of the west (something that still affects us today). But I do feel some of this back half could have been condensed as well.
While this never quite reached the heights of The Dinosaur Hunters for me, it was still an excellent read and one I highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject.
A fascinating journey into the early birth of American Science and the frontiers of paleontology. The author does an excellent job building the world and sorting through the politics of the time to give a sense of why this was such a big deal.
While sometimes a bit bogged down with information, it never fails to maintain interest and is a solid read for anyone with an interest in the era.
The Long Answer
I picked this up after reading The Dinosaur Hunters, a book which deals with the initial discovery of dinosaurs in England and the birth of paleontology and geology. This book serves as a perfect sequel of sorts, taking place almost immediately afterwards and with a few of the same faces appearing. Seeing the contrast between the English and American experiences is particularly fascinating.
The picture it paints of America at the time is vivid and compelling, and really helps set the scene. Given how rapidly America was changing this is an ongoing challenge that the book is always up for. Despite all of this, the book generally does and excellent job of not straying too far from the battles of Cope and Marsh. There were some times where I felt some of the proceedings could have been condensed, but it never stopped being interesting.
If I had any issue with the book, it's that the dinosaurs start to take a backseat to the story near the end. This is not really a fault of the author's, simply an issue that after almost 100 years they were no longer a new shock to society. This leaves the back half of the book dealing more with personal feuds, which are still quite interesting, especially given the rest of the politics surrounding them. How Marsh and Cope's war managed to directly affect how the US Government planned to manage and irrigate the arid parts of the west (something that still affects us today). But I do feel some of this back half could have been condensed as well.
While this never quite reached the heights of The Dinosaur Hunters for me, it was still an excellent read and one I highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject.
March 25, 2019
Jaffe’s engrossing book details the intertwined lives and feuding history of paleontologists O.C. Marsh and E. D. Cope. The story takes place during the 19th century rise and growth of science and scientific institutions in the United States, so the reader learns cultural and political as well as scientific history.
That each man was a remarkable scientist is beyond repute. But their contempt for each other and their insatiable desire to not just triumph over their “adversary” but to actually destroy their work is a remarkable study in psychology. Fellow scientists were forced to take sides in the feud; scientific institutions and universities were short-changed by the rancor and collections were either not shared for scientific study or were actually squirreled away to be hidden from public view.
And you thought politicians were a spiteful bunch.
Should you begin the book with the idea that you will find yourself “rooting” for one man or the other, you will be disappointed. Marsh seems scholarly and methodical but also is too cold and selfish to be a sympathetic figure. Cope is a brilliant underdog who is too bad-tempered and peevish to garner any support.
Neither man is enlightened about issues relating to minorities or women – even for their day – and Cope’s dark take on evolution leads him to write extensively about the “subspecies” of humans that white European-American men must shake off to advance the noble race. Ick.
Still; their grueling treks to bone beds in the western U.S. and their exhaustive efforts to understand and describe their finds makes each man a remarkable figure. Both Cope and Marsh helped paleontology take great strides to be the importance science it is today. For that, the reader can be engaged and grateful.
That each man was a remarkable scientist is beyond repute. But their contempt for each other and their insatiable desire to not just triumph over their “adversary” but to actually destroy their work is a remarkable study in psychology. Fellow scientists were forced to take sides in the feud; scientific institutions and universities were short-changed by the rancor and collections were either not shared for scientific study or were actually squirreled away to be hidden from public view.
And you thought politicians were a spiteful bunch.
Should you begin the book with the idea that you will find yourself “rooting” for one man or the other, you will be disappointed. Marsh seems scholarly and methodical but also is too cold and selfish to be a sympathetic figure. Cope is a brilliant underdog who is too bad-tempered and peevish to garner any support.
Neither man is enlightened about issues relating to minorities or women – even for their day – and Cope’s dark take on evolution leads him to write extensively about the “subspecies” of humans that white European-American men must shake off to advance the noble race. Ick.
Still; their grueling treks to bone beds in the western U.S. and their exhaustive efforts to understand and describe their finds makes each man a remarkable figure. Both Cope and Marsh helped paleontology take great strides to be the importance science it is today. For that, the reader can be engaged and grateful.
Read
April 28, 2025YALDIZLI DİNOZOR: E. D. Cope ve O. C. Marsh Arasında Geçen Fosil Savaşı ve Amerikan Bilimi’nin Yükselişi
ABD’nin ilk paleontologlarının arasında geçen, Vahşi Batı’daki fosil bulma yarışı. Kitap 2000 yılında yayımlanmış; konu ise 1850’lerden 1900’e kadar, tam da evrimsel biyolojinin ve eski varlıkların incelenmesinin altın çağında geçiyor. Darwin, Huxley ve Agassiz’in de dahil olduğu bir atmosferde, sesi diğer kıtadan duyulan bir fosil yarışı başlıyor ve daha önce hiç görülmemiş türleri (özellikle dinozor kemiklerini) arka arkaya iki paleontolog, ciddi bir karşıtlık ve ona uygun stratejilerle, ortaya çıkarıyor.
Kitapta kızılderililerle çatışma var, bufalo sürüsü ile sürüklenme var, hırs ve hırsızlık var… İki karakterin de çekilmez yanları ve günümüzde kabul edemeyeceğimiz düşünceleri var. Buna rağmen tüm zorluklara karşı, öyle bir dönemde bilime verdikleri -rekabetin de hızlandırdığı- katkı, bugün zevkle gezdiğimiz müzelere ve izlediğimiz filmlerden oyunlara (hatta bir belediyecinin meşhur israfına kadar) yansıdı.
Jaffe, bulabildiği kadar kaynak ve hatıra bulup "Bardakçı gibi" çalışmış. Yaldızlı Dinozor, tarihi roman ve biyografi arası, bir bilimsel atılım döneminin özeti.
Filmi çekilmeli ve E.D. Cope’u Aidan Gillen oynamalı kesinlikle.
(Kitabın şimdilik Türkçe tercümesi yok, alıntılar kendi tercümelerim.)
ABD’nin ilk paleontologlarının arasında geçen, Vahşi Batı’daki fosil bulma yarışı. Kitap 2000 yılında yayımlanmış; konu ise 1850’lerden 1900’e kadar, tam da evrimsel biyolojinin ve eski varlıkların incelenmesinin altın çağında geçiyor. Darwin, Huxley ve Agassiz’in de dahil olduğu bir atmosferde, sesi diğer kıtadan duyulan bir fosil yarışı başlıyor ve daha önce hiç görülmemiş türleri (özellikle dinozor kemiklerini) arka arkaya iki paleontolog, ciddi bir karşıtlık ve ona uygun stratejilerle, ortaya çıkarıyor.
Kitapta kızılderililerle çatışma var, bufalo sürüsü ile sürüklenme var, hırs ve hırsızlık var… İki karakterin de çekilmez yanları ve günümüzde kabul edemeyeceğimiz düşünceleri var. Buna rağmen tüm zorluklara karşı, öyle bir dönemde bilime verdikleri -rekabetin de hızlandırdığı- katkı, bugün zevkle gezdiğimiz müzelere ve izlediğimiz filmlerden oyunlara (hatta bir belediyecinin meşhur israfına kadar) yansıdı.
Jaffe, bulabildiği kadar kaynak ve hatıra bulup "Bardakçı gibi" çalışmış. Yaldızlı Dinozor, tarihi roman ve biyografi arası, bir bilimsel atılım döneminin özeti.
Filmi çekilmeli ve E.D. Cope’u Aidan Gillen oynamalı kesinlikle.
(Kitabın şimdilik Türkçe tercümesi yok, alıntılar kendi tercümelerim.)
February 16, 2019
For most, this book might be dull and boring, but for dinosaur fans and history buffs, this is a very in depth history of two early giants of the dinosaur world-Marsh and Cope-and the competition the two had for more, bigger and exciting specimens. This competition brought them into the worlds colliding-Chief Sitting Bull & George Custer, JP Morgan and other financiers, Presidents Grant, Garfield, Hayes and Cleveland.
Imagine going to tell all the important Native American chiefs that you wanted permission to go into their territory not to look for gold, but to look for bones? Marsh and team was not believed, but he was able to persuade and go. He later went to Washington, DC and met with the president to get changes made to the reservations to get better food, better supplies and better attention. Chief Standing Bear held Marsh in high esteem because of the assistance.
Enjoyable book, well done.
Imagine going to tell all the important Native American chiefs that you wanted permission to go into their territory not to look for gold, but to look for bones? Marsh and team was not believed, but he was able to persuade and go. He later went to Washington, DC and met with the president to get changes made to the reservations to get better food, better supplies and better attention. Chief Standing Bear held Marsh in high esteem because of the assistance.
Enjoyable book, well done.
January 24, 2021
Jaffe's book provides an in-depth account of the nineteenth century Bone Wars between Marsh and Cope that helped drive the growth of American science. In parts, the narrative is compellingly readable, especially in the sections relating the fossil hunters' experiences in the West during the last stage of the Indian Wars and the development of the Western states.
Other sections dedicated to the development of American science, and its intimate connection to the development of West by the American government are necessarily less so. But they are also crucially important, because they show that science doesn't develop in a vacuum, but is driven by other human imperatives like power and the desire for wealth. It also shows how these motives can turn "science" into a tool for a person's and a society's less clearly declared purpose, like racial and gender superiority. Well done!
Other sections dedicated to the development of American science, and its intimate connection to the development of West by the American government are necessarily less so. But they are also crucially important, because they show that science doesn't develop in a vacuum, but is driven by other human imperatives like power and the desire for wealth. It also shows how these motives can turn "science" into a tool for a person's and a society's less clearly declared purpose, like racial and gender superiority. Well done!
May 20, 2022
An extensive and exhaustingly researched story of both Marsh and Cope, serving as a double-biography and also a description of early paleontology. It has a huge amount of information and detail, and describes the character of both of these imperfect men with considerable talent.
My only issue with it is that the author goes to considerable length on numerous other Gilded age events that have little to do with paleontology. It is a description of the 'times' the men were in, but sometimes went well beyond what I thought was truly necessary given the character of the story itself. The main thread, however, is very interesting, and the story of the "Bone Wars" is remarkably well-told here.
My only issue with it is that the author goes to considerable length on numerous other Gilded age events that have little to do with paleontology. It is a description of the 'times' the men were in, but sometimes went well beyond what I thought was truly necessary given the character of the story itself. The main thread, however, is very interesting, and the story of the "Bone Wars" is remarkably well-told here.
April 24, 2020
4.5 stars.
May 24, 2021
Extremely informative and honestly wild. A great time. Also I just love dinosaurs. Thank u museum of natural history for ur half off book sale last year
September 29, 2021
This book introduced me to ED Cope and OC Marsh and then ensured that I'd despise them by the end of the book.
Read
April 27, 2022Got a little bored reading this one, through no fault of its own, and decided to return to it later if I still want to know more about the great Bone Wars.
April 3, 2023
Who said scientists couldn’t be competitive, petulant children?
September 9, 2023
dino daddies 😌
May 30, 2018
This is not a good history. It's full of colorful anecdotes about Cope, Marsh, and their historical context, but it's horribly organized, both from chapter to chapter and paragraph to paragraph.
The author is uncritical and unreflective, which makes for a book that's rich in chaotic detail, but impoverished for analysis. I got so tired of the meandering, oblivious style that I stopped reading a quarter of the way through.
This is such an important chapter in the history of science that it's a shame it isn't handled more deftly.
The author is uncritical and unreflective, which makes for a book that's rich in chaotic detail, but impoverished for analysis. I got so tired of the meandering, oblivious style that I stopped reading a quarter of the way through.
This is such an important chapter in the history of science that it's a shame it isn't handled more deftly.
December 28, 2014
(also posted to fredscience.tumblr.com)
An account not only of perhaps the most infamous rivalry in the history of science, but of how the word "science" came into use in the United States and the birth of the academy. If you are looking for a book strictly about paleontology, this is not it: it deals heavily in politics, from the Grant administration's Indian policy to the assassination of President Garfield and how these things affected science policy and funding. If you like that sort of thing, this is the book for you.
It doesn't miss out on the juicy Marsh/Cope details, though. These guys bought fossils off each other's men, hired each other's men outright, and sabotaged each other's dig sites, simply because they couldn't stand each other and wanted to find more dinosaurs and ancient mammals than the other guy. It all started when Cope mounted the head of the reptile Elasmosaurus on its tail. Marsh was maybe a complete jerk about this, and a beautiful hatred was born. My favorite anecdote is about how viciously they fought to name a particular species of mammal. Marsh had described it as either Dinoceras or Tinoceras. Cope had described it, on separate occasions, as both Loxolophodon and Eobasileus. They fought bitterly and for months over who had gotten to it first. It was another paleontologist, Leidy, who had named it Uintatherium two weeks before either of them.
In their rush to outdo each other, they frequently made mistakes in describing new genera, often naming a dinosaur the other had already discovered. (Marsh described Stegosaurus; Cope tried to name it Hypsirhopus.) At one point Marsh found a magnificent sauropod skeleton, but its head was missing. In his rush he found a head in a quarry four miles away, chucked it on, and gave it a name. The skeleton belonged to an Apatosaurus, the skull to a Camarasaurus. The academy pointed out his error, so he found another head in a quarry four hundred miles away and called the thing Brontosaurus. ("Nailed it" -O.C. Marsh at some point probably.)
The book doesn't set out to be an indictment of American imperialism in the war against the Indians, but neither does it shy away from the details of the relationship between fossil collecting and conflict with various Indian peoples, particularly the Sioux. Marsh and Cope weren't interested in territory or gold. They only wanted bones. At the same time, they never would have gotten at the bones without railroads and soldiers and the various machinery used in the conquest of the West. It's a complicated picture and reminder that even science can benefit from imperialism.
I found the book terribly interesting. Various well known 19th century characters, such as Buffalo Bill and P.T. Barnum, make an appearance, as well as Gilded Age captains of industry like Carnegie (who very badly wanted a Brontosaurus.) I recommend it, although I must emphasize that there's more history here than science--it's almost about paleontology only incidentally.
An account not only of perhaps the most infamous rivalry in the history of science, but of how the word "science" came into use in the United States and the birth of the academy. If you are looking for a book strictly about paleontology, this is not it: it deals heavily in politics, from the Grant administration's Indian policy to the assassination of President Garfield and how these things affected science policy and funding. If you like that sort of thing, this is the book for you.
It doesn't miss out on the juicy Marsh/Cope details, though. These guys bought fossils off each other's men, hired each other's men outright, and sabotaged each other's dig sites, simply because they couldn't stand each other and wanted to find more dinosaurs and ancient mammals than the other guy. It all started when Cope mounted the head of the reptile Elasmosaurus on its tail. Marsh was maybe a complete jerk about this, and a beautiful hatred was born. My favorite anecdote is about how viciously they fought to name a particular species of mammal. Marsh had described it as either Dinoceras or Tinoceras. Cope had described it, on separate occasions, as both Loxolophodon and Eobasileus. They fought bitterly and for months over who had gotten to it first. It was another paleontologist, Leidy, who had named it Uintatherium two weeks before either of them.
In their rush to outdo each other, they frequently made mistakes in describing new genera, often naming a dinosaur the other had already discovered. (Marsh described Stegosaurus; Cope tried to name it Hypsirhopus.) At one point Marsh found a magnificent sauropod skeleton, but its head was missing. In his rush he found a head in a quarry four miles away, chucked it on, and gave it a name. The skeleton belonged to an Apatosaurus, the skull to a Camarasaurus. The academy pointed out his error, so he found another head in a quarry four hundred miles away and called the thing Brontosaurus. ("Nailed it" -O.C. Marsh at some point probably.)
The book doesn't set out to be an indictment of American imperialism in the war against the Indians, but neither does it shy away from the details of the relationship between fossil collecting and conflict with various Indian peoples, particularly the Sioux. Marsh and Cope weren't interested in territory or gold. They only wanted bones. At the same time, they never would have gotten at the bones without railroads and soldiers and the various machinery used in the conquest of the West. It's a complicated picture and reminder that even science can benefit from imperialism.
I found the book terribly interesting. Various well known 19th century characters, such as Buffalo Bill and P.T. Barnum, make an appearance, as well as Gilded Age captains of industry like Carnegie (who very badly wanted a Brontosaurus.) I recommend it, although I must emphasize that there's more history here than science--it's almost about paleontology only incidentally.
January 25, 2018
A little known fossil war between Cope and Marsh over who would make the greatest discovery of ancient bones is the theme of The Gilded Dinosaur. This non-fiction is a good read which reviles facts of how prehistoric bones came to be displayed in our nations prominent museums.
I hadn't a clue what a controversial period this was for scientific exploration. Mark Jaffe does a good job keeping the material in layman's terms yet he is thorough in his research and explaining the dynamics that went into gathering dinosaur bones.
I recommend this book to anyone who loved dinosaurs as a child and has kept an interest in them.
I hadn't a clue what a controversial period this was for scientific exploration. Mark Jaffe does a good job keeping the material in layman's terms yet he is thorough in his research and explaining the dynamics that went into gathering dinosaur bones.
I recommend this book to anyone who loved dinosaurs as a child and has kept an interest in them.
September 1, 2023
This brilliant, exciting, illuminating work is not only my favorite paleontology book, but easily one of my all-time favorite science books in any field. And as a science writer myself and a lifelong amateur paleontologist, that hopefully says something. “The Gilded Dinosaur” is also one of the very few books in my life that I’ve taken the time to read twice (shortly after it was published in 2001, and again in 2023) — and at a contemplative pace, too, in order to fully absorb its riches.
Skilled science author and investigative journalist, Mark Jaffe, uses the decades-long and continent-spanning rivalry between pioneer dinosaur hunters O.C. Marsh and E.D. Cope as a vehicle to explore the origins of American science, the development of the American West, the birth of the Smithsonian and Peabody museums, and also delivers a vibrant and thrilling portrait of a rapidly-growing nation discovering science, dinosaurs, medicine, mining, railroads … and itself.
Fans of books about the West; Native American history; the evolution of science; mining, geology, and mapping; or 19th century America will likely delight in this work, but it’s an absolute must for fossil and dinosaur enthusiasts — most especially those who are interested in the origins of the science of paleontology. I have bought multiple copies over the years to give as gifts to friends in the field. One of my favorite nonfiction reads of all time.
Skilled science author and investigative journalist, Mark Jaffe, uses the decades-long and continent-spanning rivalry between pioneer dinosaur hunters O.C. Marsh and E.D. Cope as a vehicle to explore the origins of American science, the development of the American West, the birth of the Smithsonian and Peabody museums, and also delivers a vibrant and thrilling portrait of a rapidly-growing nation discovering science, dinosaurs, medicine, mining, railroads … and itself.
Fans of books about the West; Native American history; the evolution of science; mining, geology, and mapping; or 19th century America will likely delight in this work, but it’s an absolute must for fossil and dinosaur enthusiasts — most especially those who are interested in the origins of the science of paleontology. I have bought multiple copies over the years to give as gifts to friends in the field. One of my favorite nonfiction reads of all time.
August 18, 2010
The story of the rivalry between Cope and Marsh is fascinating. However, the way this author tells the story is simply frustrating. There are countless typos and grammatical errors. Remember those college research papers you waited til the last minute to start on? This reads like one of those. The first hundred pages or so of the book are painful to get through. Nearly every sentence is made up more of quotes from letters Cope or Marsh or their contemporaries wrote than the author's own words. Fortunately it gets better later on. There are far less quotes and it becomes easier to ignore all the errors that would have been caught by any editor worth his or her salt (did the editor even READ the book???). All that aside, it is a good story. I wouldn't have finished it if it hadn't been recommended to me as a good account of the Cope-Marsh rivalry. As far as I can tell, the errors are stylistic rather than factual. But I found myself wishing that for all the quoting going on, the author had instead published the annotated letters of Cope and Marsh. Don't bother with this one. Try The Bonehunters' Revenge instead. It can't possibly be worse than The Gilded Dinosaur.
August 6, 2010
Disappointing
My paleontology professor (a great raconteur) used to tell Cope/Marsh stories – which is why I bought this book in the first place (and a geeky love of fossils). Uncle… I give up. The thought of reading any more of this was making me grind my teeth.
A juicy story about scientific backstabbing, skullduggery, theft, slander, and venomous, snarky epistles … is surprisingly boring in Jaffe’s hands. The narrative quickly becomes bogged down in all the socio-economic and political background. The cast of famous characters is legion (I ordered a book about P.T. Barnum), but it only serves to further cloud the meat of the story. I’m going to try The Bonehunters Revenge by David Wallace.
My paleontology professor (a great raconteur) used to tell Cope/Marsh stories – which is why I bought this book in the first place (and a geeky love of fossils). Uncle… I give up. The thought of reading any more of this was making me grind my teeth.
A juicy story about scientific backstabbing, skullduggery, theft, slander, and venomous, snarky epistles … is surprisingly boring in Jaffe’s hands. The narrative quickly becomes bogged down in all the socio-economic and political background. The cast of famous characters is legion (I ordered a book about P.T. Barnum), but it only serves to further cloud the meat of the story. I’m going to try The Bonehunters Revenge by David Wallace.
August 21, 2010
What I enjoyed is the author made this a very interesting read by speaking about not just dinosaurs, but the impact of the men on science as a field, their involvement with politics and Indian relations, and a myriad of other issues of the day. What I didn't enjoy is the author wrote at times like it was intended to be read by a 5 year old - lines like "And just who do you think was upset about this? Marsh!" Detracted from the overall thoroughly researched and laid out novel.
January 10, 2011
Exhaustive. No Really. It tells you everything you would want to know about the development of Paleontology and Science in mid to late 19th century America. It's a facinating account of the rivalry between Marsh and Cope, But seems to be a day by day account of thirty years worth of infighting.
September 25, 2021
Nice dual biography of E.D. Cope and O.C. Marsh, covering their lives and careers in paleontology. However, the author had an annoying habit of assuming that Darwinian evolution was/is an established fact.
Currently reading
June 30, 2009A good history for paleontology nerds. Dry, but what an interesting story.
January 6, 2011
Great book and very interesting. Opens up a world unknown to most.
Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
September 10, 2012
A great overall view of the early history of paleontology in the United States...BUT the WORST editing I have ever encountered in any book I have ever read!
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