How old is the Earth? At the end of the nineteenth century, geologists, biologists, physicists and astronomers were all looking for a clock that would provide an answer to this, the greatest Time question of all.

The Dating Game tells the story of one man’s vision of developing a geological timescale that would finally lead to an accurate date for the age of the Earth. Despite scientific opposition, financial hardship and personal tragedy, Arthur Holmes, the greatest geologist of the twentieth century, fought for fifty years to convince The Establishment of an Earth of great antiquity: a fight which eventually transformed the moribund ‘art’ of geology into a dynamic science. Cherry Lewis’ engaging writing brings Holmes back to life and skilfully weaves his adventures, loves and losses around the early history and science of dating the Earth, and the discovery of radioactivity - the clock that tells geological time.

Cherry Lewis has had a life-long passion for rocks and fossils. After Drama College and running her own retail business for several years, she finally decided to indulge her passion and studied geology as a mature student at Bristol University. Her degree was succeeded by a PhD on Tibetan granites and postdoctoral research at University College, London, which led to a career in the oil industry. Whilst writing her thesis she discovered the work of Arthur Holmes and became captivated by the man who pioneered the way towards determining the true age of the Earth.