The complete work of Charles Darwin

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Biography

PERHAPS no one has influenced our knowledge of life on earth as much as Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882). His theory of evolution by natural selection, now the unifying theory of the life sciences, explained how all of the astonishingly diverse kinds of living things are related and how they became exquisitely adapted to their particular environments. His theory reconciled a host of diverse kinds of evidence such as the succession of fossil forms in the geological record, the geographical distribution of species, recapitulative appearances in embryology, homologous structures, vestigial organs and nesting taxonomic relationships. In further works Darwin demonstrated that the difference between humans and other animals is one of degree not kind. In geology, zoology, taxonomy, botany, palaeontology, philosophy, anthropology, psychology, literature and theology Darwin's writings produced profound reactions, many of which are still ongoing. Yet even without his evolutionary works, Darwin's accomplishments would be difficult to match. His brilliantly original work in geology, botany, biogeography, invertebrate zoology, psychology and travel writing would still make him one of the most original and influential workers in the history of science. Darwin's writings are consequently of interest to an unusually wide variety of readers.

Charles Darwin: gentleman naturalist. A biographical sketch

Timeline

Darwin's life in pictures^*

Obituaries and recollections of Darwin

See also:

[Darwin's personal 'Journal' (1809-1881)]. Introduction Text CUL-DAR158.1-76

Burke, H. F. 1888. Pedigree of the family of Darwin. N.p. Privately printed. Images A163

An extremely useful reference work for almost anything relating to Darwin is:

Freeman, R. B. 1978. Charles Darwin: A companion. Folkstone: Dawson. Text Images Text & images A27

For more detailed accounts of Darwin's life on this site see:

Darwin, F. ed. 1887. The life and letters of Charles Darwin, including an autobiographical chapter. London: John Murray.
Volume 1 Text Images Text & images F1452.1
Volume 2 Text Images Text & images F1452.2
Volume 3 Text Images Text & images F1452.3

Darwin, C. R. 1958. The autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882. With the original omissions restored. Edited and with appendix and notes by his grand-daughter Nora Barlow. London: Collins. Text Images Text & images F1497

Darwin, F. and Seward, A. C. eds. 1903. More letters of Charles Darwin. A record of his work in a series of hitherto unpublished letters. London: John Murray.
Volume 1. Text Images Text & images F1548.1
Volume 2. Text Images Text & images F1548.2

^* This was inspired by Michael Hunter's Robert Boyle: A life in pictures.

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File last updated 2 January, 2007