Charles Robert Darwin, the scientist, produced a prolific array of work during his lifetime. Of his 19 books, his most famous and historic work On the Origin of Species was published in 1859 when he was exactly 50 years old. There has been much speculation as to why he waited so long to publish his ideas on the origin of species following the return from his voyage in 1836.
More can be found at Darwin -- Short Bio.
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From the Publisher: In the current resurgence of interest in the biological basis of animal behavior and social organization, the ideas and questions pursued by Charles Darwin remain fresh and insightful. This is especially true of The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Darwin's second most important work. This edition is a facsimile reprint of the first printing of the first edition (1871), not previously available in paperback. |
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From the Publisher: In the Origin of Species (1859) Darwin challenged many of the most deeply held beliefs of the Western world. Arguing for a material, not divine, origin of species, he showed that new species are achieved by 'natural selection'. Development, diversification, decay, extinction and absence of plan are all inherent to his theories. Darwin read prodigiously across many fields; he reflected on his experiences as a traveller, he experimented. His profoundly influential concept of 'natural selection' condenses materials from past and present, from the Galapagos Islands to rural Staffordshire, from English back gardens to colonial encounters. The Origin communicates the enthusiasm of original thinking in an open, descriptive style, and Darwin's emphasis on the value of diversity speaks more strongly now than ever. |
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From the Book Jacket: In 1831, Charles Darwin embarked on an expedition that, in his own words, "determined my whole career." The Voyage of the Beagle chronicles his five-year journey around the world - and especially the coastal waters of South America - as a naturalist on the H.M.S. Beagle. While traveling through these unexplored countries collecting specimens, Darwin began to formulate the theories of evolution and natural selection realized in his master work, The Origin of Species. Travel memoir and scientific primer alike, The Voyage of the Beagle is a lively and accessible introduction to the mind of one of history's most influential thinkers. |