Customer Reviews
Delightful book - By: Big Jim, 07 Sep 2008 
This more than just a description of a museum. This is also a journey into the history of the natural sciences & a part biography as well. Well illustarted, Richard Fortey describes an institution that is trying hard (and succeeding if the new Darwin Centre is any guide)to move with the times, make science accesible to the public, yet has more going on behind the scenes than we could ever give credit.
Anyone who livesin or visits London should pay more than one visit to this marvelous place, & thanks to this book they will be well briefed as to what goes & has gone on there.
Marvellous stuff. - By: LettyBIRD, 18 Mar 2008 Dry Store Room No.1 is a wonderful book that allows the reader an insight into the fascinating world of the Natural History Museum, London. In this book Mr Fortey tells us; not only about the exhibits, but also about the work behind them & the men & women who carried out this work. We learn about all sorts of things from the ghastly stenches of the pit where Whale carcasses are stripped of flesh to the curator who obsessively categorized everything including "string too short for further use".
The science parts can occasionally be a bit hard to understand but like another reviewer I see that as my lack of understanding not Mr Fortey's lack of clarity & besides what would life be if we didn't stretch ourselves oncein a while.
I thoroughly recommend this for the sort of person who likes a behind the scenes look at life.
dry store room no.1 - By: Mrs. Virginia Giles, 17 Mar 2008 
Richard Fortey writes as always with elegance, passion & lucidity that is a plesure to read. if I haave to re-read some of the 'science' it is because I am not a scientist not his lack of clarity. all his books are informative & enlarge our view of the world.
A boring book with an interesting title - By: P. Malling, 08 Mar 2008 
A very boring & tedious book that should have been left on the shelves with the other unseen exhibits.
A joy to read - By: Garry Paton, 08 Mar 2008 Once again, another good book from Fortey. His writing style is completely addictive & difficult to put down - if only he would write more!
