Barnum’s Bones

I’m on a bit of a historical kick after reviewing The Iguanodon’s Horn, so I thought I’d do another, this time focusing on a specific paleontologist rather than a species dinosaur. Barnum’s Bones is over a decade old at this point, but it is still a good introduction to it’s titular focus: famed paleontologist Barnum Brown, discoverer of Tyrannosaurus rex! So put on The Ballad of Barnum Brown, and follow along as we take a look at this light-hearted biography.

Barnum’s Bones (written by Tracey Fern and illustrated by Boris Kulikov) features some key points of Barnum Brown’s career, focusing primarily on the period leading up to the discovery of Tyrannosaurus rex. Barnum’s early field expeditions are briefly discussed, including his last-minute expedition to Patagonia to collect mammal fossils. I feel like more could have been said about the interesting things that happened on this particular expedition, but with T. rex as the secondary focus of the book, I suppose it makes sense not to get too sidetracked. I liked how the author conveys Brown’s dedication through tough conditions, both in searching for and actually excavating his fossils. The reader gets a good sense of the hard work, and the rewarding payoff, of these field expeditions.

I did find it odd that the author continually referred to Henry Fairfield Osborn by Barnum’s nickname of “My Dear Professor”. It’s fine to note that this is how they spoke to each other, but its use through the rest of the book suggests an unwarranted softness towards Osborn, who by all accounts, was not broadly liked in his own time, and whose reputation has only soured since.

Kulikov’s illustrations have an exaggerated, larger-than-life character very much befitting the showman nature that Barnum Brown shared with his namesake. While not exactly “cartoonish”, there’s a strong element of caricature that conveys just as much about the situations and individuals as the text itself does, though the actual fossils are not always accurately represented. There’s not much in the way of anatomical rigor to most of the fossils depicted, though the main star is reasonably well-reconstructed, complete with an anachronistically modern pose once Barnum’s bones are finally mounted at the AMNH.

I rather like Barnum’s Bones, and enjoyed seeing Barnum Brown getting some mainstream recognition. I’d say it’s about on the level of The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, both in terms of age range and general quality. It does its job well, and covers a significant topic in the history of paleontology. Everybody loves Tyrannosaurus, and I think everyone should know about the man who found it! For all that, I think it deserves my Stomp of Approval. For more books on historical figures in paleontology, check out my reviews of Daring to Dig, She Found Fossils, Fossil Huntress, The Clues are in the Poo, and the many books on Mary Anning.