This is a fantastic facsimile providing the reader with everything they could want to know about Charles Darwin. Beautifully presented and with lots of fascinating items of memorabilia to look at and take out of the book. There are copies of his diary entries, handwritten notes, sketches and much much more. This is a must for anyone interested in the man who put forward the theory for natural selection forming the basis of what we can accept as the theory of evolution.

Synopsis

"Darwin" provides an unparalleled overview of the great scientist's life and theory of evolution. The story opens with the little-known discoveries before Darwin and then traces Darwin's life from his childhood in Shrewsbury through his education before his life-changing voyage on board HMS Beagle as a naturalist. His great work, "On the Origin of Species" is clearly explained, as well as Darwin's many other revolutionary works.

This book is lavishly illustrated with original illustrations and features over 27 illuminating items of facsimile memorabilia, including: handwritten notebooks, diary entries and letters, drafts, notes, sketches and maps that reveal the very fabric of Darwin's life and work.

Contents
Imprint; Contents and Introduction; The Abyss of Time; The Abundance of Nature; Charles Darwin - Born a naturalist: 1809-25; Edinburgh University: 1825-27; University of Cambridge: 1827-31; The Voyage of the Beagle: 1831-36; Eastern South America: 1831; Don Carlos, So Much of a Gaucho: 1832; Fossil Discoveries: 1832; Tierra del Fuego and the Shock of the Savage: 1832; Western South America: 1833-34; The Galapagos Islands - the True Story: 1835; Across the Pacific and Around the World: 1835-36; To Marry or not to Marry?: 1837-39; Journal of Researches: 1838-43; Zoology of the Beagle: 1838-43; Geology of the Beagle: 1838-43; At home with the Darwins: 1839-53; Putting the Puzzle Together: 1853-59; Barnacles: 1853; On the Origin of Species: 1859; The Reception of Darwin's Theory of Evolution: 1859-64; Orchids: 1862; Variation: 1868; The Powers of Plants: 1868; The Descent of Man and The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals: 1871-1872; The Sage of Downe and the Study of Worms: 1881-82; Darwin's Death and Legacy: 1882 - present; Index; Credits; Further Reading.

About the Author

John van Wyhe is a historian of science at the University of Cambridge. He is the founder and Director of Darwin Online, a Bye-Fellow of Christ's College (Darwin's own college) and a member of the British Society for the History of Science. Van Wyhe's recent research has challenged the long-held view that Darwin kept his theory secret for 20 years (Darwin's delay). Van Wyhe is publishing four books and numerous shorter items on Darwin for 2009: an edited volume of Darwin's shorter publications, Darwin's notebooks from the voyage of the Beagle, a booklet on Darwin in Cambridge and an accessible book on Darwin and evolution which contains many facsimile documents, Darwin. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation