In the footsteps of a literary giant...
Professor Challenger has come to Portsmouth on the lookout for dinosaurs – and it looks like he's found one.
The fictional scientist is used to prehistoric creatures in the book The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle. But he didn't expect to spot one on the south coast.
As this picture shows, the character was surprised to see the long-necked beast when he visited The Natural History Museum at Cumberland House in Southsea.
While Professor Challenger visits Portsmouth landmarks, the city's children and residents can discover The Lost World from where he came in a massive 8,000 book giveaway.
The Discover The Lost World project is run by Portsmouth library service and aims to get children and adults reading and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arthur Conan Doyle as well as the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
With support from The News, the massive book giveaway includes 2,000 copies of The Lost World, 2,000 copies of a children's version of the 1912 novel, 2,000 copies of a graphic biography of Darwin and 2,000 copies of a fascinating guide to Doyle, Darwin and dinosaurs.
The free copies can be picked up from any of the city's nine libraries and from News offices in Portsmouth (Hilsea and Lake Road), Gosport, Fareham and Havant.
The News editor Mark Waldron said: 'The Lost World is a really exciting adventure story with dinosaurs and ape-like creatures in a mysterious land. It's a great read.'
You don't need to fill in any forms – you can just claim your free books from Portsmouth libraries and News offices while stocks last:
- The children's version of The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has family favourites Wallace and Gromit on the front cover. This concise version of the story also contains puzzles, facts about animals and dinosaurs and sections to learn new words.
- Darwin: A Graphic Biography by Simon Gurr and Eugene Byrne tells the life story of Charles Darwin and how his theory of evolution came to fruition in his book On The Origin Of Species.
- The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle – a complete and unabridged version of the 1912 book from publishers Oxford World's Classics. This is aimed at adults.
- The Lost World: A Readers' Guide by Melanie Kelly gives insights into Charles Darwin and Conan Doyle, fossils and dinosaurs, evolution and science fiction.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
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