Otherlands author Thomas Halliday: ‘Some people have insisted on reading the book backwards’

The paleobiologist and author of Foyles’ nonfiction book of 2022 on Earth’s deep past, the joys of the British Library, and how early four-limbed vertebrates helped him find his feetThomas Halliday was born in 1989 and raised in Rannoch in the Scottish Highlands. He studied zoology at Cambridge before specialising in paleobiology for his master’s and PhD – winning the Linnean Society Medal for the best doctorate in biological studies. His debut book Otherlands: A World in the Making – which comes out in paperback on 2 February – was Foyles’ nonfiction book of 2022, while the historian Tom Holland called it “the best book on the history of life on Earth I have ever read”. Halliday lives in north London with his wife and sons.What is paleobiology?In the late 20th century, we began to realise that we could study far more aspects of past life than simply describing the forms and defining them into taxonomies. Paleobiology encompasses everything from cell biology to genetic relationships to ecology. It’s like any other part of biology, except it happens to be set in the deep past. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-28 18:00:26 UTC ]

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Apple Books Bestsellers: 'Becoming' Isn't Going Anywhere

Former First Lady Michelle Obama's debut book, 'Becoming,' has become the year's bestseller to date and doesn't look likely to be leaving the #1 slot in the Apple Books store anytime soon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Blake reimagines Matilda for 30th anniversary

Illustrator Quentin Blake has reimagined Roald Dahl’s Matilda as an astrophysicist, a world traveller and chief executive of the British Library for new editions of the book, which was first published 30 years ago. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book to Film Deals, Week of August 6, 2018

Among the notable book-to-film deals this week is a nonfiction book on women's suffrage which sold to Amblin TV with Hillary Clinton attached as a producer, and Netflix's purchase of a memoir by the founder of Nike. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dame Carol Black appointed British Library chair

Culture secretary Matt Hancock has appointed Dame Carol Black as chair of the British Library for a four year term. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DK signs debut from 'horticultural sensation' Huw Richards

DK is to publish the debut book by 19-year-old "horticultural sensation" Huw Richards in March 2019. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jolly to succeed Brazier as BL's chief librarian

Liz Jolly has been named as the new chief librarian at The British Library, succeeding Caroline Brazier who is stepping down after 15 years in the role. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of May 7, 2018

HMH nabs a Brit’s debut rom-com, S&S buys a nonfiction book from the creator of a forthcoming BET dramedy, Andrews McMeel invests in another Instagram poet, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comey's Debut Sells More Than 600,000 In Its First Week

Former FBI director James Comey's debut book, 'A Higher Loyalty,' has sold more than 600,000 copies since its publication last week, Flatiron Books president Bob Miller and publisher Amy Einhorn have reported. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber signs 'superb' Brazilian debut

Faber has acquired a debut book by 26-year-old Brazilian writer Geovani Martins. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of April 9, 2018

S&S preempts a nonfiction book by a lauded reporter, Chronicle re-ups a Marlon Bundo co-creator, Thomas & Mercer lays down six figures for an indie bestseller, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rebuck, Calder, Gregory reflect on the impact of Women in Publishing

Thirty high-profile former members of Women in Publishing reflect on how the group empowered women in the industry in the 1970s and '80s in an oral history being made available at the British Library. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Times journalist to pen money guide

The Times’ consumer champion Laura Whateley’s debut book, a guide to money management, has been signed by 4th Estate. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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British Library reveals 6.2% gender pay gap

Women earn 6.2% less than men per hour at the British Library, it has been revealed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK's first Muslim literature and culture festival launches

Novelists Elif Shafak and Kamila Shamsie are set to headline the UK’s first dedicated festival of Muslim culture, literature and ideas, at the British Library in April. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harry Potter exhibition goes online

Google is hosting the British Library’s History of Magic exhibition online as the physical version closes its doors. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Go viral, score book deal. 'Cat Person' author sells her debut book in the U.K., with U.S. deal in the works

The debut book from Kristen Roupenian, whose New Yorker short story “Cat Person” went viral far beyond the scope of most short fiction when it was published earlier this month, has been sold to British publisher Jonathan Cape, the Guardian reports. Roupenian's short story collection, “You Know... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cat Person author's debut book sparks flurry of international publishing deals

Following her viral short story hit, Kristen Roupenian’s You Know You Want This has been sold to Cape in the UK, with the US auction said to be topping $1mKristen Roupenian, whose short story about a relationship turned sour, Cat Person, set the internet on fire last week, has sold her debut... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cape scoops 'Cat Person' writer Roupenian's debut

Jonathan Cape has scooped the debut book from Kristen Roupenian, the author of 'Cat Person', a short story published in the New Yorker this week which went viral and triggered a wave of media coverage. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book to Film Deals, December 11, 2017

A 2005 sci-fi novel published by Tor and a nonfiction book about an author's experience in the world of sports betting are among the novels which have just been optioned. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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British Library's 'truly exceptional' chief librarian to retire after 15 years

The British Library’s 'truly exceptional' chief librarian, Caroline Brazier, will be stepping down from her role next year after deciding to take early retirement. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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