Charles Darwin's Letters: A Selection, 1825-1859 [Hardcover]

Charles Darwin (Author), Frederick Burkhardt (Editor), Stephen Jay Gould (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 1996

Charles Darwin stands as a towering figure in science, who changed the direction of modern thought in establishing the basis of evolutionary biology. These letters offer a fascinating window onto his daily experience, scientific observations, personal concerns and friendships, affording a unique glimpse of Darwin as both naturalist and family man. From his early years at Edinburgh University up to the publication of The Origin of Species in 1859, the letters in this volume chart the most exciting years of Darwin's life, including the voyage of the Beagle and the subsequent findings which led to his theory of natural selection. The Cambridge Edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (winner of the first Morton N. Cohen Award for a Distinguished Edition of Letters) has been hailed as a monumental edition and a triumph of post-war publishing. This selected edition, introduced by Stephen Jay Gould, makes these engaging letters newly available.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This selection from the seven volumes of Darwin's collected correspondence spans the great naturalist's life and career from university days in Edinburgh to the publication of the epochal Origin of Species in 1859. Pride of place in terms of priority naturally goes to Darwin's youthful and seminal service on the Beagle, yet the whole gathering of letters constitutes a fascinating tale. In communication with an astonishing range of correspondents, Darwin begins his interest in natural science, collects evidence, and forms his theories seemingly as we watch. His correspondence comes from and exemplifies the arguably highest point of written documentation. Darwin and his educated contemporaries were literate enough to make their thought commonly and permanently accessible. Theirs is not the "communication" of the throwaway age of electronic information overload. These letters put us at the elbow of a brilliant man as he gives birth to some of the most significant ideas in the history of science. Dennis Winters

Review

'One of the great feasts of editing in decades has been the painstaking assembly, by a suite of scholars, of the letters of Charles Darwin ... This little hardback is just a hint of the riches contained in the Cambridge series, at nine volumes so far and still going.' The Guardian

'Charles Darwin's Letters show Darwin as a captivating correspondent ... his excitement as his theory takes shape is catching.' New Scientist

'... a charming and stimulating introduction to Darwin's world.' Richard Yeo, Metascience

'The selection is a satisfying blend of personal details and scientific debate.' Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1St Edition edition (March 29, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521562120
• ISBN-13: 978-0521562126
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,472,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful Sampling of Darwin Correspondence, May 31, 2007

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Ronald H. Clark (WASHINGTON, DC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Charles Darwin's Letters: A Selection, 1825-1859 (Canto original series) (Paperback)

In May of 2007, the Darwin Correspondence Project, based at Cambridge University, announced that it had placed an additional 5,000 largely unpublished Darwin letters onto its excellent web site (darwin-online.org.uk). This website is a treasurehouse of the first order for anyone interested in Darwin and Victornian intellectual history. Of course, Cambridge University Press has published a number of volumes in its Darwin correspondence series. However, for a quick dip into Darwin's letters, to get a feel from what is there, this collection covering the period up to the publication in 1859 of "Origin" is a handy introduction. The book has a Foreword by the late Stephen Jay Gould which places the letters into the context of what as going on in Victorian science. The editor, Frederick Burkhardt, has added a helpfujl Introduction and "Editor's Note." The letters are in chronological order, the first being written in 1825 while Darwin was studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Next are letters relating to Cambridge, the offer to make the Beagle voyage, the voyage to South America, and Homeward Bound. So there is plenty of coverage of Darwin's epic trip. But the letters continue after his return up until publication of the Origin. The editor has included some helpful notes, a Biographical Register, Bibliography and Bibliographical Note, and suggestions for further reading (a bit out of date since the book was put together in 1996). All together a very nice and inexpensive package loaded with interesting information and providing the opportunity to come more directly into contact with that most scintilating of minds, that of Darwin.