A writer from Abergele has released a book chronicling the life of North Wales naturalist, traveller and writer Thomas Pennant.

Author Dr Eiddwen Jones’ latest (and sixth) novel Recall is based on the life and times of Thomas Pennant, a famous 18th century naturalist from Flintshire.

Hailing from his family estate, the now demolished Downing Hall near Whitford, Pennant wrote the acclaimed books British Zoology, The History of Quadrupeds, Arctic Zoology and Indian Zoology.

His books influenced the writings of Samuel Johnson, who wrote the first Oxford Dictionary.

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An antiquarian, Pennant amassed a considerable collection of art and other works, largely selected for their scientific interest – many are now housed at the National Library of Wales.

Eiddwen’s interest in his life is in part because she also from the Holywell area of Flintshire, and because she feels his work has not been given due credit.

She said: “This is a man who worked tirelessly in North Wales for many years, and there hasn’t been an awful lot talked about him.

“He was such an interesting character, when Darwin went on the [HMS] Beagle on his travels around the world, he took some of Pennant’s books with him.

“He was so highly looked upon in those days regarding nature and fossil collecting.”