Abstract

developments of the eighteenth century centred A Short History of Geomorphology (Croom Helm, London, 1985). By KEITHTINKLER.14 x 22 em. xviii + upon James Hutton and John Playfair. Part 3 incorporates five chapters covering the nineteenth 317 pp. 35 illustrations. Price .£ 19·95. century and embracing unformitarianism, catastro­ phism, the glacial theory and contributions in North In the final paragraph of the conclusion of this book it is contended that 'geomorphology is, and always American geomorphology. This part represents about one third of the text and the succeeding Part 4 has been, the most accessible earth science to the provides a further third and has three chapters ordinary person: we see scenery as we sit, walk, ride or fly'. Although, however, geomorphology, defined dealing successively with the contribution of W. M. simply as the study of the shape of the earth's surface, Davis and the Geographical Cycle, the impact of new is potentially of great interest to many people, it has approaches and foci after World War II, and finally perhaps not realised as much popular appeal as it with studies of landform processes and landscape might have done. Furthermore, it has not been the studies since 1960. Throughout