James Hutton's reputation is widely recognized in geological circles internationally, but in his introductory chapter, Alan McKirdy laments the contradiction that such an important character of the Scottish Enlightenment does not enjoy equivalent celebrity in his homeland. The attractive new edition of National Museums Scotland's biography should go some way towards correcting that imbalance and, in view of the 2026 tercentenary of Hutton's birth, the publication is timely. A cross-corner banner on the front cover promises ‘revised and expanded’ and, relative to the first edition of 1997 and its subsequent revisions, the claim is certainly justified.

A first impression of the book notes the abundance and quality of the illustrations. Geological themes are well covered, but an inspired touch is the inclusion of many contemporary cartoons by John Kay which bring the characters to life in a more convivial way than formal portraits. Perhaps the only illustrative disappointment is the front cover, which demonstrates just how hard it is to take a dramatic and imposing photograph of the Siccar Point unconformity.

The book opens with a fulsome dedication to the …