作品简介

　　在本书中，著名古生物学家蒂姆·弗兰纳里将讲述欧洲土地上的自然历史。从1亿年前大陆相互作用形成了我们今天称为欧洲的群岛和第一批具有明显欧洲特色生物的进化，到彗星撞击、气候变化造成的物种来来去去，再到历经数百万年进化，人类的出现对欧洲大陆动植物群的巨大影响，最后讲述了如今欧洲在野生动物恢复方面的作用，并展望了利用生物技术重建欧洲消失物种的未来。弗兰纳里将优雅的文笔与科学专业知识结合在一起，以他特有的风格讲述了地球上最具影响力的一方土地上跌宕起伏的自然史和生命演变。

　　为什么是欧洲？

　　欧洲不仅是孕育了西方文明之源的丰饶土地，在更广阔的时间尺度上，它也是连接着地球三分之二陆地——亚洲、北美洲、非洲——的桥梁，是地球历史上zui重要的交流中心之一。

　　为什么是自然史？

　　提及欧洲，我们势必先想到这片土地上的人类文明：古希腊罗马、中世纪、文艺复兴、启蒙运动与工业革命，甚至两次影响世界格局的战争。这些历史已经被讲述了千百次，但关于这片土地本身和其上古老而多样的生命，却少有系统、生动的记录。

　　一种甚少被书写的欧洲史，从生命和土地出发，重新认识作为桥梁的欧洲

　　在这部欧洲自然史中，我们从更广阔的时间尺度重新探索欧洲，发现孕育辉煌文明的这片土地本身的力量。

　　一部完整连贯的生命史，不仅属于过去，也事关当下和未来

　　从1亿年前到22世纪，从白垩纪化石到基因技术复活猛犸象，这是一部全面丰富的自然史，记录了大量化石、遗迹研究和博物学、古生物学家探索，为我们拼出连贯而精彩的欧洲自然传奇。

　　破解欧洲生物多样的密码，重寻人类祖先在此地的痕迹：本书提供了“杂交”这一关键词，杂交使有益基因在进化中得以继承，因此包括人类在内的生命得以在不断变化的环境中生存，塑造并改造着这片土地。

　　30年欧洲自然考察结集，备受推崇的权威作者

　　本书作者已出版20多本古生物学和自然历史著作，受到《枪炮、病菌与钢铁》作者贾雷德·戴蒙德、英国前首相托尼·布莱尔，以及《科学》《纽约时报》《华盛顿邮报》《独立报》等媒体好评。

　　蒂姆·弗兰纳里（Tim Flannery）

　　澳大利亚科学院院士，哺乳动物学家、古生物学家、环境学家、探险家、作家，自然资源保护主义者、科学传播活动家。

　　1984年在新南威尔士大学获得古生物学博士学位，随后进入澳大利亚博物馆并担任哺乳动物馆负责人。历任阿德莱德大学教授、南澳大利亚博物馆馆长、哈佛大学澳大利亚研究客座教授、麦考瑞大学教授等。在古生物和哺乳动物学研究中，他已发现了数十种未被描述过的新物种，并于2007年入选“澳大利亚年度人物”。

Introduction of works

In this book, renowned paleontologist Tim Flannery tells the story of natural history on European soil. From continental interactions 100 million years ago that formed the archipelago we call Europe today and the evolution of the first distinctly European creatures, to the coming and going of species caused by comet impacts and climate change, to the dramatic impact of humans on the continent's flora and fauna over millions of years of evolution, and finally to Europe's role in wildlife recovery today, It also looks into the future of using biotechnology to rebuild lost species in Europe. Flannery combines elegant writing with scientific expertise to tell with characteristic style the dramatic natural history and evolution of life in one of the most influential places on Earth.

Why Europe?

Europe is not only the fertile land that gave birth to Western civilization, but on a broader time scale, it is also the bridge connecting two-thirds of the Earth's landmass - Asia, North America, Africa - and one of the most important centers of communication in Earth's history.

Why natural history?

When we talk about Europe, we must first think of the human civilization on this land: Ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, and even two wars that shaped the world pattern. These histories have been told thousands of times, but there are few systematic and vivid records of the land itself and its ancient and diverse life.

A little-written history of Europe, a new understanding of Europe as a bridge, starting from life and land

In this natural history of Europe, we rediscover Europe on a broader time scale and discover the power of the land itself that gave birth to its glorious civilization.

A complete and coherent history of life is not only about the past, but also about the present and the future

From 100 million years ago to the 22nd century, from Cretaceous fossils to genetic techniques to resurrected mammoths, this is a comprehensive and rich natural history of fossils, relic studies, and natural history and paleontologists to piece together a coherent and wonderful European natural saga.

Cracking Europe's biodiversity code and retracing traces of human ancestors here: This book provides the key word "hybridization", which allows beneficial genes to be inherited through evolution, so that life, including humans, can survive in a changing environment, shaping and transforming the land.

A collection of 30 years of nature research in Europe, the respected authoritative author

The author has published more than 20 books on paleontology and natural history, and has been praised by Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs and Steel, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as by Science, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Independent, among others.

By Tim Flannery

Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences, mammalogist, paleontologist, environmentalist, explorer, author, conservationist, and science communication activist.

He received his PhD in palaeontology from the University of New South Wales in 1984 and then joined the Australian Museum as Head of Mammals. He has served as Professor at the University of Adelaide, Director of the South Australian Museum, Visiting Professor of Australian Studies at Harvard University, and Professor at Macquarie University. In his paleontological and mammalian research, he has discovered dozens of new species that have not yet been described and was named Australian of the Year in 2007.