author
J. Cecil (John Cecil) Hughes
A clergyman-geologist with a gift for clear explanation, he turned the Isle of Wight’s rocks, cliffs, and fossils into an inviting story for curious readers. His best-known book makes geology feel less like a textbook and more like a guided walk through deep time.
1 Audiobook
The Geological Story of the Isle of Wight
by J. Cecil (John Cecil) Hughes
About the author
Little biographical detail is easy to confirm, but the surviving record shows that J. Cecil Hughes, also listed as John Cecil Hughes, wrote The Geological Story of the Isle of Wight, first published in 1922. The book presents the island’s strata, fossils, and coastal formations in a way meant for general readers as well as beginners in geology.
The title page identifies him as Rev. J. Cecil Hughes, B.A., which suggests he was a clergyman as well as a writer with a serious interest in earth science. His work reflects a practical, observational approach: he uses the Isle of Wight’s famous cliffs and shorelines to explain how landscapes are built over immense spans of time.
Today, Hughes is remembered mainly for that accessible geological guide, which remains of interest to readers who enjoy natural history, local landscape writing, and classic popular science.