American Dinosaur Abroad - (Regional) by Ilja Nieuwland (Paperback)

About the Book

The Untold Story of Carnegie's Prized Dinosaur and Its Influence on European Culture

Book Synopsis

In early July 1899, an excavation team of paleontologists sponsored by Andrew Carnegie discovered the fossil remains in Wyoming of what was then the longest and largest dinosaur on record. Named after its benefactor, the Diplodocus carnegii--or Dippy, as it's known today--was shipped to Pittsburgh and later mounted and unveiled at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in 1907. Carnegie's pursuit of dinosaurs in the American West and the ensuing dinomania of the late nineteenth century coincided with his broader political ambitions to establish a lasting world peace and avoid further international conflict. An ardent philanthropist and patriot, Carnegie gifted his first plaster cast of Dippy to the British Museum at the behest of King Edward VII in 1902, an impulsive diplomatic gesture that would result in the donation of at least seven reproductions to museums across Europe and Latin America over the next decade, in England, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Russia, Argentina, and Spain. In this largely untold history, Ilja Nieuwland explores the influence of Andrew Carnegie's prized skeleton on European culture through the dissemination, reception, and agency of his plaster casts, revealing much about the social, political, cultural, and scientific context of the early twentieth century.

Review Quotes

American Dinosaur Abroad is brisk, fascinating, and enormously informed. The topic demands a scholar of Ilja Nieuwland's skills: he knows the languages; he understands the interplay of science, culture, politics, and the press; and he understands how, in human relations, personality is always the wild card. A must read for lovers of history and ancient bones.--Tom Rea

American Dinosaur Abroad artfully examines the legacy of one of the world's most famous dinosaurs.-- "Pennsylvania History"

Diplodocus is a Jurassic icon, one of the largest and most impressive dinosaurs ever uncovered. But it is not just that. In this detailed, thoughtful exploration, Ilja Nieuwland follows the changing cultural significance of this famous dinosaur in its role as ambassador, celebrity, and scientific catalyst, revealing how a single, spectacular skeleton can spur broader changes in the process of science and appreciation for nature. Read this book and you'll never look at old bones the same way again--Brian Switek

A prime example of simultaneously being highly engaging to read (and certainly accessible to a general reader), while also being a sophisticated and meticulously researched work in the history of science (utilizing collections in no less than 12 archives in six countries).-- "Centaurus"

Engaging and illuminating.-- "The Times Literary Supplement"

Ilja Nieuwland has written a thoroughly researched and engaging account of the history of Diplodocus carnegii. American Dinosaur Abroad offers fascinating insight into the workings of international and national science in the early twentieth century and the growth of the iconic popularity of dinosaurs. A landmark work in the history of paleontology.--Chris Manias

Nieuwland crafts appealing portraits of the narrative's many characters, especially William J. Holland, the director of the Carnegie Museums and a lepidopterist turned self-trained paleontologist. . . . Extensive use of archives and sources in multiple languages result in thorough context for a global movement that involved much anatomical speculation and dueling expertise. Though it was not written in Nieuwland's first language, the book's prose is flawless.-- "Foreword Reviews"

Nieuwland's partiality for the relays of power and privilege accreting around this dinosaur makes for a truly compelling exposé.-- "Isis"

The book is a story of science and history, but it's also a close reading of how fossils and their replicas become tools of capitalism, power, and privilege. And it's a story that Nieuwland tells particularly well. . . . American Dinosaur Abroad offers a well-researched example of how paleontological patronage ensured the scientific, social, and commercial success of a dinosaur. It's also a fascinating window into the idiosyncratic hubris of one of America's most consequential barons.-- "Pacific Standard"

The story of Diplodocus is supposed to be familiar. But as revealed here by paleontological historian Ilja Nieuwland, the true story is more complex, nuanced, and interesting. His book is a crucial contribution to the sparse literature on historical paleontology and includes a vast amount of detail not previously covered elsewhere.--Darren Naish

About the Author

Ilja Nieuwland is a historian of science-in particular paleontology-attached to the Huygens Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in Amsterdam.