The Continental Drift Controversy: Wegener and the Early Debate

This four-volume treatise, *The Continental Drift Controversy*, by Henry R. Frankel, offers a groundbreaking and comprehensive account of the scientific revolution that reshaped Earth Science. It meticulously chronicles the sixty-year debate over continental drift, from its initial conception to its ultimate vindication through plate tectonics. Drawing on a wealth of interviews, archival materials, and original scientific works, Frankel crafts an engaging narrative that illuminates the lives and contributions of the scientists at the heart of this pivotal controversy, making complex ideas accessible to both specialists and general readers. The first volume, *Wegener and the Early Debate*, specifically focuses on the formative years of the continental drift hypothesis. It delves into Alfred Wegener's audacious proposal in the early 1900s, highlighting his insightful observations about the remarkable fit of continents like jigsaw pieces and his groundbreaking concept of Pangaea. This volume vividly portrays the immediate aftermath of Wegener's theory, detailing how it ignited a fierce debate, splintering into various sub-controversies and dividing the geoscientific community into staunch "fixists" and adventurous "mobilists." Its inclusion on a list of best books by Henry R. Frankel is entirely appropriate, as it showcases his unparalleled ability to synthesize complex scientific history into a compelling and understandable narrative, establishing the foundational arguments that would eventually lead to the triumph of plate tectonics.