In Chevalier’s fictional account of the small coastal village, Lyme Regis transforms from a quiet provincial town to a frontier of discovery through the curiosity and tenacity of two pioneering women. Lyme Regis is not only the setting for the story but is also a symbol of contrasts that include the intersection of science and nature as well as the clash of traditional ideas and progressive thinking. The historical setting creates a strong sense of place and becomes a force for personal growth in the characters. Elizabeth describes its unique landscape, saying: “Lyme Regis is a town that has submitted to its geography rather than forced the land to submit to it” (19). Its beaches and cliffs represent a treasure trove of ancient secrets that open a new world of possibilities to the characters and the scientific world.

For Mary Anning, Lyme Regis symbolizes home and the only place she’s ever lived. The coastal landscape is so ingrained in Mary’s psyche that she can feel the tidal rhythms in her body. However, for Elizabeth Philpot, Lyme Regis first represents her helpless situation as an aging, unmarried woman. Forced to leave her life in London after her brother’s marriage, Elizabeth must settle for a humbler lifestyle in the rustic seaside village.