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Three Men of the Beagle
Beautifully written and hauntingly resonant, Three Men of the Beagle is both an engrossing Victorian morality tale and a superb rendering of a key period in the life of Charles Darwin.
The three men of the Beagle are: Darwin himself, at a time when his epochal theory of evolution was taking shape--a theory that when eventually published would threaten the foundations of Victorian society; Robert FitzRoy, the ship's brilliant aristocratic commander, a scientist who championed orthodox Christianity; and Jemmy Button, an Indian of Tierra del Fuego, who was taken to England by FitzRoy, educated and catechized, received by the King and Queen and then returned to his bleak homeland (in order to be of service to future European mariners). Jemmy's outlook is that of primitive man as he begins to apply moral measures to his own and general human behavior.
Based upon historical facts never before stitched together as a narrative, and set primarily in the Fuegian islands north of Cape Horn, this is a story that brings into conflict two men who represented the dominant trends of nineteenth-century thought and another man of utter simplicity. The encounter and clash of these three onetime shipmates set in motion a remarkable chain of events that culminates in a crime of gargantuan proportions.
Rich in atmosphere, often spellbinding, Three Men of the Beagle is a work of singular originality. It is also a deeply revealing picture of the ways in which Victorian England perceived itself and the world around it.
The three men of the Beagle are: Darwin himself, at a time when his epochal theory of evolution was taking shape--a theory that when eventually published would threaten the foundations of Victorian society; Robert FitzRoy, the ship's brilliant aristocratic commander, a scientist who championed orthodox Christianity; and Jemmy Button, an Indian of Tierra del Fuego, who was taken to England by FitzRoy, educated and catechized, received by the King and Queen and then returned to his bleak homeland (in order to be of service to future European mariners). Jemmy's outlook is that of primitive man as he begins to apply moral measures to his own and general human behavior.
Based upon historical facts never before stitched together as a narrative, and set primarily in the Fuegian islands north of Cape Horn, this is a story that brings into conflict two men who represented the dominant trends of nineteenth-century thought and another man of utter simplicity. The encounter and clash of these three onetime shipmates set in motion a remarkable chain of events that culminates in a crime of gargantuan proportions.
Rich in atmosphere, often spellbinding, Three Men of the Beagle is a work of singular originality. It is also a deeply revealing picture of the ways in which Victorian England perceived itself and the world around it.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 16, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 1, 2021
Absorbing and different, and not really what I expected. That turned out to be a good thing. The 'three men', Darwin (no intro needed), Robert FitzRoy (Captain of the Beagle) and...Jemmy Button? Well, he was a Yaghan Indian from the Tierra Del Fuego area where the Beagle ended up several times. The book was really about the encounters with those natives, more than anything to do with Darwin's work in the Galapagos or elsewhere. That is a truly a different story and sad in many ways. The writing in the book is a little different too, which is not a negative. Sometimes very short, surprising declarative sentences. 'The Yaghans are now extinct.' Which pretty much sums up what did happen to the people of Jemmy Button. The story of their abduction, period in England (and an audience with the King William IV) and return to the land of the Yaghans is both fascinating and disturbing. The Yaghan were an extremely primitive people and led dull, grueling lives in an incredibly hostile land. Cold, dark, wet and windy. Except I suppose in the long days of summer when the dark does not apply. Per Wikipedia: This region has a subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen Cfc) and temperatures are steady throughout the year: in Ushuaia they hardly surpass 9 °C (48 °F) in summers and average 0 °C (32 °F) in winters. Yet I was amazed to see that annual precipitation average at Ushuaia is only 21 inches, considering the storminess often attributed to Cape Horn. Local effects are no doubt significant. I digress. The other interesting personage for meteorologists is that Robert FitzRoy became a pioneer of the science! Again per Wikipedia: FitzRoy was a pioneering meteorologist who made accurate daily weather predictions, which he called by a new name of his own invention: "forecasts". Wow. And to think he was criticized for getting some of the new-fangled 'weather forecasts' wrong!! Ironically, in spite of his great contributions to one science he vehemently rejected Darwin's ideas on evolution. Altogether this was real hidden gem of a book!
January 2, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It’s about the HMS Beagle, which sailed for five years from England, to the southern tip of South America, to Australia and home (with other stops along the way).
The three men were 1) Captain FitzRoy, who captained the ship and mapped the areas visited. He also had visions of Christianizing the natives. 2) Charles Darwin, who came up with the idea of evolution on this trip, or at least found evidence for the theory he may have already had. 3) Jemmy Button, a Yahgan Indian living at the tip of SA when the Beagle stopped there.
Capt. FitzRoy had the idea of bringing back some of the Indians to England, to learn English, and then help him to communicate the Word of God to the other Indians. Jemmy Button was one of the three a Indians who survived the trip to England.
The subject matter was fascinating. I love other cultures, so reading about the Yahgans was interesting, since they were particularly not up to the “civilized” standards of Englishmen. I enjoyed reading about the Yahgans’ reactions to English life, how they behaved when returned to their Indian life. Since both Darwin and FitzRoy were scientists, I liked hearing about their work and how science was treated in England in the mid-1800’s.
There was much more that I liked. Great book.
The three men were 1) Captain FitzRoy, who captained the ship and mapped the areas visited. He also had visions of Christianizing the natives. 2) Charles Darwin, who came up with the idea of evolution on this trip, or at least found evidence for the theory he may have already had. 3) Jemmy Button, a Yahgan Indian living at the tip of SA when the Beagle stopped there.
Capt. FitzRoy had the idea of bringing back some of the Indians to England, to learn English, and then help him to communicate the Word of God to the other Indians. Jemmy Button was one of the three a Indians who survived the trip to England.
The subject matter was fascinating. I love other cultures, so reading about the Yahgans was interesting, since they were particularly not up to the “civilized” standards of Englishmen. I enjoyed reading about the Yahgans’ reactions to English life, how they behaved when returned to their Indian life. Since both Darwin and FitzRoy were scientists, I liked hearing about their work and how science was treated in England in the mid-1800’s.
There was much more that I liked. Great book.
November 4, 2020
Por el titulo del libro parecería que cuenta la historia del capitán Fitzroy, Jemmy Button (el fuegino que estuvo en Inglaterra) y Charles Darwin en la expedición del Beagle, pero esta pate es mínima.
Muy bien documentado explora las vidas de los tres personajes que se unieron durante unos meses en la travesía e intenta explicar las relaciones entre ellos y La visión de sus contemporáneos asi como la actual del hecho de traer a los fueginos ( que se encontraban en el Paleolítico, con un lenguaje limitado y viviendo en una franja de tierra entre el bosque y el mar donde aparte de construir algunas canoas poco mas instrumental tenían), enseñarles el ingles, la religión anglicana y las costumbres inglesas, su devolución e inmediata vuelta a su mundo y sus costumbres.
Posteriormente narra las vicisitudes de misioneros anglicanos empeñados en civilizar y llevar la fe a este pueblo y la incomprensión mutua pro parte de los nativos y misioneros que acabo en una serie de pequeñas catástrofes.
Fascinante las explicaciones de la vida de los fueginos así como de los misioneros en sus misiones
en esas tierras.
Muy bien documentado explora las vidas de los tres personajes que se unieron durante unos meses en la travesía e intenta explicar las relaciones entre ellos y La visión de sus contemporáneos asi como la actual del hecho de traer a los fueginos ( que se encontraban en el Paleolítico, con un lenguaje limitado y viviendo en una franja de tierra entre el bosque y el mar donde aparte de construir algunas canoas poco mas instrumental tenían), enseñarles el ingles, la religión anglicana y las costumbres inglesas, su devolución e inmediata vuelta a su mundo y sus costumbres.
Posteriormente narra las vicisitudes de misioneros anglicanos empeñados en civilizar y llevar la fe a este pueblo y la incomprensión mutua pro parte de los nativos y misioneros que acabo en una serie de pequeñas catástrofes.
Fascinante las explicaciones de la vida de los fueginos así como de los misioneros en sus misiones
en esas tierras.
September 28, 2025
This was an interesting foray into some overlooked aspects of a voyage which is practically a household name. I was pleased to learn more about it besides Darwin's observations on the Galapagos, which is usually the only thing in focus. The book covers Fitroy's contributions to naval advancements, and Jemmy Button's story; both of which are often overshadowed.
July 21, 2018
Usually, when visiting the library, I check out several books that look promising. I end up reading maybe 20%. I devoured this book in a day. Mr. Marks has turned historical and biographical details into a very engrossing narrative.
January 29, 2020
Sant Jordi és la meva festivitat catalana preferida. No necessito moltes excuses per deixar-me caure per una llibreria i estar-m’hi una hora donant voltes per les prestatgeries, buscant idees per una nova lectura o simplement recordant aquells llibres que tinc pendent llegir o que he llegit al llarg dels anys. No obstant, reconec que St. Jordi em dóna l’excusa perfecte per comprar-me un llibre i passar-me una tarda passejant per les parades. Aquest any vaig tenir la sort de poder fer-ho per Girona, i després d’haver recorregut parades i botigues no em vaig poder resistir a passar per la botiga de llibres de segona mà del carrer Ballesteries (Book Store). Hi ha quelcom d’aquest tipus de botigues que té un atractiu irresistible, que va més enllà del que sento quan recorro una llibreria o una parada de llibres. Les llibreries fan olor a llibre nou: aquella essència que és una barreja de cola adhesiva, del recobriment protector que li dóna brillantor a les pàgines dels llibres de text, d’aigua oxigenada, que s’usa per blanquejar el paper. És una olor que em recorda el dia que els meus pares em compraven els llibres de text del curs escolar, i és la olor que acompanyava les primeres setmanes d’escola i, més darrerament, la relaciono amb el moment en que m’arriba un llibre de text de feina. En canvi, una botiga de llibres de segona mà té una olor molt diferent, sobretot si té llibres prou vells fets encara amb paper provinent de la fusta. Aquests tenen un aroma comú: fan olor a vainilla, a atmetlla, a una suor suau, agradable. Aquest olor es barreja amb moltes altres olors més subtils, olors que han deixat lectors quan giraven les seves pàgines, es prenien un cafè, o bassaven una gota de tè en un pàgina, de manera que cada llibre acaba tenint una olor particular. Aquestes olors m’evoquen un cert romanticisme cada cop que entro en una botiga de llibres de segona mà i recorro les prestatgeries atent, conscient de que entre tots aquells llibres potser s’amaga una petita joia, una edició antiga d’un llibre clàssic, un llibre oblidat que sempre he volgut llegir, o un d’aquells llibres que ja no s’editen i no podria descobrir en els catàlegs de les llibreries online o, menys encara, en les llibreries que constantment renoven el seu gènere.
Aquest cop buscava llibres relacionats amb les illes Galàpagos; em feia gràcia llegir sobre elles abans d’anar-hi aquest estiu de vacances. Donat que aquestes illes estan inevitablement lligades a la figura de Charles Darwin, em vaig plantejar llegir ‘L’evolució de les espècies’ però em va fer molta mandra llegir pàgines i pàgines científiques sobre la fauna i flora de les illes. En un racó de Book Store vaig trobar un llibre que va cridar la meva atenció: “Tres hombres a bordo del Beagle”, de Richard Lee Marks. El Beagle és el vaixell que va dur Darwin per varis racons del món durant cinc anys i, que per tant, podia contenir l’estada de Darwin a les Galàpagos. Bingo! Doncs bé, fa uns dies que me’l vaig acabar un pèl decepcionat perquè les Galàpagos no ocupen ni una frase sencera de tot el llibre. El llibre tracta de la part del viatge de Darwin a la terra del foc, i el protagonista és el capità del vaixell, Fitzroy. No es tracta d’una novel·la de ficció, sinó més aviat d’un relat historic elaborat a partir de vàries fonts com són la biografia d’en Darwin, el diari de Fitzroy i la premsa científica de l’època. El llibre gira al voltant de la vida de Fitzroy, la seva relació amb un Darwin jove, encara desconegut, i un índigena de la tribu dels iagans, Jemmy Button, a qui es porta a Anglaterra amb la missió d’educar-lo i evangelitzar-lo. El llibre retrata amb detall la personalitat de Fitzroy, el caràcter de les exploracions que fa a la terra del foc, i la interacció entre les tribus d’aquesta zona i els missioners anglesos. També posa èmfasi en el canvi de la societat anglesa de l’època, molt influïda pel caràcter religiós de la reina i l’aristocràcia. Darwin és un actor secundari de la trama però Lee Marks decideix posar-hi part de la vida i obra científica del pare de la teoria de l’evolució, probablement com a esquer pels lectors. Hi ha doncs, mencions a la recepció de la teoria de l’evolució a Anglaterra, la reacció del propi Fitzroy i la comunitat científica; per bé que se’n troben de més completes a internet (recomano un article de l’últim número de Scientific American, maig 2019). Com a llibre de contingut històric està bé, però no es tracta d'una novel·la de ficció històrica (ni pretén ser-ho). La qualifico de correcta si bé no té massa interés literari.
Aquest cop buscava llibres relacionats amb les illes Galàpagos; em feia gràcia llegir sobre elles abans d’anar-hi aquest estiu de vacances. Donat que aquestes illes estan inevitablement lligades a la figura de Charles Darwin, em vaig plantejar llegir ‘L’evolució de les espècies’ però em va fer molta mandra llegir pàgines i pàgines científiques sobre la fauna i flora de les illes. En un racó de Book Store vaig trobar un llibre que va cridar la meva atenció: “Tres hombres a bordo del Beagle”, de Richard Lee Marks. El Beagle és el vaixell que va dur Darwin per varis racons del món durant cinc anys i, que per tant, podia contenir l’estada de Darwin a les Galàpagos. Bingo! Doncs bé, fa uns dies que me’l vaig acabar un pèl decepcionat perquè les Galàpagos no ocupen ni una frase sencera de tot el llibre. El llibre tracta de la part del viatge de Darwin a la terra del foc, i el protagonista és el capità del vaixell, Fitzroy. No es tracta d’una novel·la de ficció, sinó més aviat d’un relat historic elaborat a partir de vàries fonts com són la biografia d’en Darwin, el diari de Fitzroy i la premsa científica de l’època. El llibre gira al voltant de la vida de Fitzroy, la seva relació amb un Darwin jove, encara desconegut, i un índigena de la tribu dels iagans, Jemmy Button, a qui es porta a Anglaterra amb la missió d’educar-lo i evangelitzar-lo. El llibre retrata amb detall la personalitat de Fitzroy, el caràcter de les exploracions que fa a la terra del foc, i la interacció entre les tribus d’aquesta zona i els missioners anglesos. També posa èmfasi en el canvi de la societat anglesa de l’època, molt influïda pel caràcter religiós de la reina i l’aristocràcia. Darwin és un actor secundari de la trama però Lee Marks decideix posar-hi part de la vida i obra científica del pare de la teoria de l’evolució, probablement com a esquer pels lectors. Hi ha doncs, mencions a la recepció de la teoria de l’evolució a Anglaterra, la reacció del propi Fitzroy i la comunitat científica; per bé que se’n troben de més completes a internet (recomano un article de l’últim número de Scientific American, maig 2019). Com a llibre de contingut històric està bé, però no es tracta d'una novel·la de ficció històrica (ni pretén ser-ho). La qualifico de correcta si bé no té massa interés literari.
January 28, 2009
Great concept: story of three men who came together aboard the HMS Beagle, a ship sent to map the coastline of South America, a five year voyage: 1931-1836.
The three men were Charles Darwin, the young naturalist who came on the expedition to look for evidence of the biblical Great Flood but who’s findings eventually lead to his “Origin of the Species,” the book that set forth the concept of evolution; Robert FitzRoy, the ship’s captain, a devote Christian and Darwin’s friend who would later stronger denounce his views and Jemmy Button, a Native American living at Tierra del Fuego, a primitive, purely innocent man taken back to England to be educated into the world of “civilization.” But at what cost?
Excerpt from the book: “Darwin lived seventeen years after Jemmy’s death and eighteen years after the death of FitzRoy. So the confluence of these three lives did not apply to their entirety. But the significance of their lives in relation to one another remains remarkable: Darwin, like a generator of immense power, transmitting the bleak, cold light of pure reason; FitzRoy in convulsive, self-destroying fury opposing him; and Jemmy—with conscience just beginning to dawn on him—burning up like a sparrow that happened to flicker into the field between these two charges poles of intellect and feeling.”
Wow!
The three men were Charles Darwin, the young naturalist who came on the expedition to look for evidence of the biblical Great Flood but who’s findings eventually lead to his “Origin of the Species,” the book that set forth the concept of evolution; Robert FitzRoy, the ship’s captain, a devote Christian and Darwin’s friend who would later stronger denounce his views and Jemmy Button, a Native American living at Tierra del Fuego, a primitive, purely innocent man taken back to England to be educated into the world of “civilization.” But at what cost?
Excerpt from the book: “Darwin lived seventeen years after Jemmy’s death and eighteen years after the death of FitzRoy. So the confluence of these three lives did not apply to their entirety. But the significance of their lives in relation to one another remains remarkable: Darwin, like a generator of immense power, transmitting the bleak, cold light of pure reason; FitzRoy in convulsive, self-destroying fury opposing him; and Jemmy—with conscience just beginning to dawn on him—burning up like a sparrow that happened to flicker into the field between these two charges poles of intellect and feeling.”
Wow!
July 26, 2015
Buen libro, jamas lo hubiese leído si no me lo prestaba la amiga de mi mamá, Si bien no esta ,como bien lo dice el autor en una de las primeras paginas, escrito de una forma narrativa si no mas bien histórica, me llamo la atención. Me gusto mucho el personaje de FiztRoy. Si bien la historia (como genero) no me llama mucho la atención, todo lo referido a prehistoria, aborígenes y civilizaciones griegas, romanas y egipcias si, por lo que disfrute bastante cuando la historia (en el libro) involucraba a los indígenas. Me aburrían un poco las partes que hablaban con mucha información detallada dando datos que ni siquiera me acuerdo que no hacían mas que volver al libro denso.
"Quien ríe ultimo tiene poco de que reír"
"No es sabiduría ser únicamente sabio"
Calificación final: 3 estrellas
"Quien ríe ultimo tiene poco de que reír"
"No es sabiduría ser únicamente sabio"
Calificación final: 3 estrellas
November 9, 2013
A very interesting comparison of three very different meant - Darwin, Fitzroy and Button, the querulous and bigoted student, the arrogant captain (and obviously a descendant of a royal bastard) and a South American native wrenched from his life and thrown into juxtaposition in the name of scientific curiosity. All noble and flawed. The interaction is all too predictable. Still, its good to read this as an adjunct to Darwin's "Origin" book. It worked the opposite way with me - shamed me into reading the "Origin."
November 8, 2014
A captivating story of three men whose stories briefly converged at the tip of the southern hemisphere.
June 12, 2020
It helps to have some prior familiarity with the names of Darwin's contemporaries. Sources are not identified.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews