The Darwin Conspiracy [Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

John Darnton (Author), Various (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 13, 2005

In this riveting new novel, bestselling author John Darnton transports us to Victorian England and around the world to reveal the secrets of a legendary nineteenth-century figure. Darnton elegantly blends the power of fact and the insights of fiction to explore the many mysteries attached to the life and work of Charles Darwin. What led Darwin to the theory of evolution? Why did he wait twenty-two years to write On the Origin of Species? Why was he incapacitated by mysterious illnesses and frightened of travel? Who was his secret rival? These are some of the questions driving Darnton’s richly dramatic narrative, which unfolds through three vivid points of view: Darwin’s own as he sails around the world aboard the Beagle; his daughter Lizzie’s as she strives to understand the guilt and fear that struck her father at the height of his fame; and that of present-day anthropologist Hugh Kellem and Darwin scholar Beth Dulcimer, whose obsession with Darwin (and with each other) drives them beyond the accepted boundaries of scholarly research. What Hugh and Beth discover - Lizzie’s diaries and letters lead them to a hidden chapter of Darwin’s autobiography - is a maze of bitter rivalries, petty deceptions, and jealously guarded secrets, at the heart of which lies the birth of the theory of evolution.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Darnton has worked for forty years as a reporter, editor, and foreign correspondent for The New York Times. He was awarded two George Polk Awards for his coverage of Africa and Eastern Europe, and the Pulitzer Prize for his stories that were smuggled out of Poland during the period of martial law. He is a best-selling author whose previous novels include Neanderthal and The Darwin Conspiracy. He lives in New York.

From AudioFile

Who is Charles Darwin? This fictionalized account explores that question from three points of view: Darwin's own, his daughter Lizzie's, and those of two young anthropologists drawn to Lizzie for an understanding of the man, each for different reasons. A different narrator for each of these parallel plot lines is a helpful technique, given the overlapping subject matter. Each strand of the story could easily stand on its own as each narrator provides an engaged performance, making skillful use of accents and good use of pace and timing. Together, the narrators construct a story in which the parallel plots are evenly matched and in balance, weaving the three strands together seamlessly. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged; Unabridged edition (September 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423306120
• ISBN-13: 978-1423306122
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,729,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A very busy book, January 9, 2010

By 

Susan K. Stutler "Susan" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Darwin Conspiracy (Audio CD)

This book tends to jump around alot. It goes from past to present and inbetween. I can say that the author put a lot of research into this one. The history of it is interesting, although not a "factual" book, anyone who has any knowledge of Darwin will know that some of the information in the book is true. All that said, it is a good book for maybe the younger man. Not so much for the over fourty woman such as myself.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hogwash, January 21, 2006

By 

Bear rEvolution "BearrEvolution" (Soldotna, AK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Darwin Conspiracy (Audio CD)

Don't you just love people who can figure out a way to make a lot of bucks by smearing the reputation of someone unable to fight back. I guess authors like that operate on the premise that "the bigger they are, the more bucks that will fall."

Given that Darwin is one of the most highly respected scientists in the history of biology, any one who defames him should be absolutely sure of their facts, and should provide an epilogue to clarify exactly where they strayed beyond known facts into speculation and fiction. Darnton lacks the professionalism to do either. True, he cites several references; but nowhere does he identify which references, if any, document his allegations that Darwin stole the idea of natural selection from natives in Terra del Fuego, and from a fellow biologist -- whom he then murdered.
I suppose Darnton's next book is going to be about how Newton stole the theory of gravity from a tightrope walker or Einstein learned the Theory of Relativity by channeling from space aliens.

Darnton even tries convincing readers that Darwin's health must have failed because of intense guilt. He gives no credence to the possibility that Darwin picked up a tropical disease or parasite -- a fate that has ruined the health of many an explorer, even in modern times. After expeditions into Cambodia, one of my biologist colleagues end up with something like Blackwater feaver, involving massive hemorrhaging of his kidneys-as well as Denge Feaver.

Another guy's expedition to Borneo was yielded a parasite as thick as his little finger that burrowing its way through his body and face until it emerged from his eye socket. Removing the parasite intact was essential; if it broke off in his flesh, it would have rotted in place and killed him. Hence, a month of agony, pulling it out millimeter by millimeter. One can only wonder what little demons Darwin picked up in South America and other exotic locations. Keep in mind that diagnosis 150 yrs ago wasn't quite up to modern standards. Indeed, it is only in the past months that investigators confirmed that Beethoven died of lead poisoning, presumably from drinking wine from leaden or leaded-crystal goblets. One can only wonder whether Darwin's remains were preserved and could be subjected to a modern postmortum.

For now, I've got to place The Darwin Conspiracy on an even lower scale than DaVinci Code regarding historical veracity. Is it a good read, despite its defects - not unless you are titillated by poor scholarship and cheap shots.

Stephen F. Stringham, PhD -- Wildlife Biologist