Bibliography - Mantell, Gideon Algernon
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A visit to the Mantellian Museum at Lewes, by Robert Bakewell, published 1829 in Magazine of Natural History (vol. 3, article, pp.9-17)

Gideon Algernon Mantell, L.L.D., F.R.S., by Mark Antony Lower, published 1865 in The Worthies of Sussex (pp.158-159) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 3208][Lib 3233][Lib 3304] & The Keep [LIB/503515][LIB/504913]

Some Lewes Men of Note [including Tom Paine, Gideon Mantell, M. A. Lower and John Evelyn], by George Holman, published 1905 (88 pp., Lewes: W. E. Baxter) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/503447] & East Sussex Libraries

Some Lewes Men of Note [including Tom Paine, Gideon Mantell, M. A. Lower and John Evelyn], by George Holman, published 1927 (4th edition, 100 pp., Lewes: W. E. Baxter) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Gideon Algernon Mantell, LL.D., F.R.G.S., F.R.S., Surgeon and Geologist, by Sidney Spokes, M.R.C.S., published 1927 (xv + 263 pp., John Bale, Sons and Daniel and Son Ltd.) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Gideon Mantell's reputation as a geologist is world-wide, Lewes is proud of him, and this book is a notable piece of Sussex history. The name of Mantell occurs frequently in our county records and since the days of Gideon's ancestor, Thomas Mantell, (headborough of Lewes, 1562, and constable 1572), the family has been well-known in the County town. Born in 1790, within its walls, Mantell went to London to take his medical degree and returned to his native town to practice in 1811, and it was here that he entered, with such surprising energy and brilliance upon the double activities of surgeon and geologist. He won a conspicuous position in his profession and at the same time opened up new worlds by his scientific studies. In Castle Place (the two centre houses of a group of four, built in 1812 on the site of the White Horse Inn) which he remodelled as we see it to-day and adorned with the "Ammonite order", he gathered together the famous, collection of fossil remains from Sussex which was eventually acquired by the nation and now forms part of the British Museum of Natural History at South Kensington. Tilgate Forest was his happy hunting ground, and it was from the study of Sussex geology that he drew those weighty inferences that have been so important a factor in the modern development of the Science. Mantell moved to Brighton in 1833 and five years later, broken in health by his long labours and by disappointment, went to live in London. It was during his residence in Sussex that his chief discoveries were made and his important works were written.
The degree in which a man's character lives again in the memory of his friends, both contemporary and posthumous, is eloquently shown in this book. The author came to Lewes unwitting of the task before him; he found Mantell's house ready for a tenant, inviting him to enter; and when he took up his residence, one of the first things he did was to fix a commemorative stone to its walls. Here he has collected much local information, here he has studied the transcripts of the long and illuminating correspondence with Professor Silliman of Yale University, and thus, with the aid of the genius loci, he has now produced a more enduring memorial than stone, of a man whose life had its full share of the tragedy which is so often attendant upon greatness. As a boy Mantell was fascinated by the ruins of Lewes Priory; he unearthed many important finds, and presented amongst other relics the splendid St. Peter Capital to the British Museum. He wrote many interesting papers concerning the town, its events, topography and antiquities. Indeed, Mantell deserved the tribute of our grateful memory in so many ways, that we are glad the debt is at last recognised and in part at any rate discharged by Mr. Spokes' appreciative volume. The illustrations add to the value of the book, an excellent photograph of Castle Place, Lewes, being justly given pride of place, as frontispiece.

Men of Sussex: Half-Forgotten Worthies. 8 - Gideon Algernon Mantell, by S.C.M. Contributor(s), published 1934 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. VIII no. 9, article, pp.566-567) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9329] & The Keep [LIB/500178]

Gideon Mantell and His Journal , by Sidney Spokes, published August 1936 in Sussex Notes & Queries (vol. VI no. 3, article, pp.74-78) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 12537][Lib 8863][Lib 8224] & The Keep [LIB/500208] & S.A.S. library

The Journal of Gideon Mantell: A Sussex Doctor and Geologist a Century Ago, edited by E. Cecil Curwen, M.B., F.S.A., published 1938 in Sussex County Magazine (vol. XII no. 1, article, pp.20-25; no. 2, pp.100-104; no. 3, pp.159-164; no. 4, pp.257-259; no. 5, pp.298-303; no. 6, pp.380-388; no. 7, pp.461-465; no. 8, pp.535-540; no. 9, pp.614-622; no. 10, pp.668-673; no. 11, pp.754-761; no. 12, pp.810-818) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2317] & The Keep [LIB/500183]

The Journal of Gideon Mantell, Surgeon and Geologist. Covering the Years 1818-1852, edited by Eliot Cecil Curwen, published 1940 (xii + 315 pp., London: Oxford University Press) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/503531] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Gideon Algernon Mantell LLD FRCS FRS (1790-1852). Surgeon and geologist: "Wizard of the Weald"., by A. D. Morris, published February 1972 in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine (vol 65, issue 2, article, pp.215-221) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/504062]   Download PDF

Scientists and Inventors in West Sussex, Gill, Smail, Mantell, Tapsell, Lyndhurst, Hansom, Pullinger, McIndoe , by Irene Campbell, Martin Hayes and Martin O'Neill, published 1996 (Chichester: West Sussex County Council, ISBN-10: 0862603757 & ISBN-13: 9780862603755) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Gideon Algernon Mantell: A Bibliography With Supplementary Essays, by Dennis R. Dean and David Norman, published 1 December 1998 (279 pp., Scholars Facsimiles, ISBN-10: 0820115193 & ISBN-13: 9780820115191) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Gideon Mantell and the Discovery of Dinosaurs, by Dennis R. Dean, published 1999 (xix + 290 pp., Cambridge University Press, ISBN-13: 9780521420488) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

This is a biography of a dinosaur hunter and scholar. Mantell spent 25 years restoring Iguanodon fossils, and helped establish the idea of an Age of Reptiles that ended with their extinction at the conclusion of the Mesozoic Era.

The two states of Mantell's Illustrations of the geology of Sussex: 1827 and c. 1829, by R.J. Cleevely, S.D. Chapman, published 2000 in Archives of Natural History (vol. 27, part 1, article, pp.23-50)

Concerns Gideon Mantell.

Gideon Mantell. Memento Mori 1, by Anthony Brook, published 2002 (West Sussex Geological Society) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Gideon Mantell. Memento Mori 2, by Anthony Brook, published 2002 (West Sussex Geological Society) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Gideon Mantell. Memento Mori 3, by Anthony Brook, published 2002 (West Sussex Geological Society) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Gideon Mantell. Memento Mori 4, by Anthony Brook, published 2002 (West Sussex Geological Society) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Gideon Mantell's Inaugural Publication, by Anthony Brook, published Spring 2003 in West Sussex History, the Journal of West Sussex Archives Society (no. 71, article, p.26) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16404/71] & The Keep [LIB/500495]

Gideon Mantell and St Michael's, Lewes, by Anthony Brook, published Autumn 2006 in West Sussex History, the Journal of West Sussex Archives Society (no. 75, article, p.49) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16404/75] & The Keep [LIB/500499]

Gideon Mantell and the Discovery of Dinosaurs, by Dennis R. Dean, published 9 March 2008 (xix + 290 pp., Cambridge University Press, ISBN-10: 0521088178 & ISBN-13: 9780521088176) accessible at: British Library

This is a scholarly yet accessible 1999 biography of a pioneering dinosaur hunter and scholar. Gideon Mantell discovered the Iguanodon (a famous tale and related in this book) and several other dinosaur species, spent over twenty-five years restoring Iguanodon fossils, and helped establish the idea of an Age of Reptiles that ended with their extinction at the conclusion of the Mesozoic Era. He had significant interaction with such well-known figures as James Parkinson, Georges Cuvier, Charles Lyell, Roderick Murchison, Charles Darwin and Richard Owen. Dennis Dean, a well-known scholar of geology and the Victorian era, here places Mantell's career in its cultural context, employing original research in archives throughout the world, including the previously unexamined Mantell family papers in New Zealand.

Gideon Mantell and the Brighton Press, 1834-1838, by John Cooper, published 2009 in West Sussex History, the Journal of West Sussex Archives Society (no. 77, article, p.33) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16404/77] & The Keep [LIB/500501]

Gideon Mantell and the art of seeing pebbles, by Melanie Keene, published 2009 in West Sussex History, the Journal of West Sussex Archives Society (no. 77, article, p.47) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16404/77] & The Keep [LIB/500501]

Dinosaur Doctor, The Life and Work of Gideon Mantell, by Edmund Critchley, published 30 July 2010 (256 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848689470 & ISBN-13: 9781848689473) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Gideon Mantell (1790-1852) was a respected surgeon and a pioneering geologist and palaeontologist. Using his skill in comparative anatomy, he pieced together unidentified bone fragments found in chalk quarries to evaluate the modes of life of early dinosaurs, including the Iguanodon, his most famous discovery. From the flora and fauna of the rock strata he established the Age of Reptiles, and revealed how the soft bodies of animalcules formed the chalk. Most of his findings came from the Weald in south east England, where he made an extensive study of the geology and he is most associated with Lewes in Sussex where he lived for most of his life. Mantell's collection of antiquities and fossils of every size was exhibited to the public and later formed a major section of the British Museum. Coming from humble stock in a provincial town, he qualified as a surgeon through an apprenticeship when 15 years old, and developed a practice in surgery, midwifery and general medicine. With his background he became embroiled in Whig politics and support for the underdog, influenced by Tom Paine and the French Revolution. Mantell's journal and correspondence provide an insight into the social history of the period. The need to achieve financial stability through his profession frequently conflicted with his scientific endeavours, but despite this he became a famous writer and lecturer, with books such as the Wonders of Geology and Medals of Creation. He exhibited along with other members of the Royal Society at scientific conversazioni, patronised by Prince Albert.

In the first half of the 19th century, Gideon Mantell (1790-1852), based in Lewes, then Brighton and finally London, first discovered a series of remarkable fossils, the most renowned of which came to be called dinosaurs. He wrote many books and papers on geology; opened a museum in Brighton's Old Steine; lectured widely to the public and courted famous men of science, aristocracy and even royalty. But this extraordinary man had first qualified as a general practitioner (then known as a 'surgeon') and throughout his life excelled as a man of medicine, To cap it all, Mantell kept a personal journal in which he laid bare much of the daily struggle that ill-health, over work and family concerns meant to him.
Little wonder then that this man's life has been well examined. Amongst the most significant publications is a biography by Sidney Spokes (1929), his abridged Journal by Curwen (1940), a history by Deborah Cadbury (1988) and most scholarly of all, a biography by Dennis Dean in 1999. So the question is - did we need another?
In his introduction, Critchley suggests that "a critique, rather than a straight biography, is needed". I am not sure that he achieves this. Indeed this book is not a straight biography - he divides Mantell's life into themes including 'Fossils', 'Museum', 'Brighton' and 'Soiree'. An unfortunate result of this is that there is quite a lot of confusing duplication where an event touches on more than one theme. For example there are three passages describing Mantell's trip to Horsham in 1848 to look at the Iguanodon jaw belonging to George Holmes.
Most of the book follows familiar ground. But this fresh approach is not without interest. Critchley interjects interesting aspects of social history including the first chapter on 'Influences'. He examines Mantell's health and personality. Being a consultant neurologist by profession, Critchley is better placed than any other author to synthesise and re-evaluate both Mantell's medical practice and his several ailments including severe scoliosis. It is this aspect of the book that I enjoyed the most and is the most significant addition to our appreciation of Mantell's life.
There are too many errors in the text. (Is a celt really a 'brass musical instrument'?; Mantell bought a terebratula from Sowerby's - and it is not a "stinging or boring fossil"). I would like to have seen a clearer indication of where the many quotes came from - Mantell's journal, correspondence, or press etc.
Nevertheless, an attractive book, which no-one with any sort of interest in Mantell will want to be without.