Rebel Giants: The Revolutionary Lives of Abraham Lincoln & Charles Darwin

by David R. Contosta

February 12, 2009, will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of two of the most extraordinary and influential men in recent history ― Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. While the coincidence of these two men being born on exactly the same day might fill astrologers with glee, further reflection points to many parallels and intersections in their lives. In this unique approach to history and biography, historian David R. Contosta examines the lives and careers of Lincoln (the political rebel) and Darwin (the scientific rebel), and notes many surprising and illuminating points of comparison.Contosta points out that despite obvious differences ― one born to a poorly educated, impoverished family on the American frontier, the other to a wealthy and prominent English family; one largely self-taught, the other with a degree from Cambridge; one a politician seeking the crowd's approval, the other a reclusive scientist―there are striking similarities between these seemingly disparate individuals. Both Lincoln and their mothers in childhood and later lost beloved children at young ages.Had strained relations with their fathers.Went through years of searching for a direction to their lives.Struggled with religious doubt.Were latter-day sons of the Enlightenment who elevated reason over religious revelation.Suffered from severe bouts of depression.Were ambitious as well as patient, with sure and steady mental powers rather than quick minds.Possessed an excellent sense of pacing that allowed them to wait until the time was ripe for their ideas and leadership.Contosta makes a compelling case that by studying the similarities (along with the differences) between these two giants of history we are able to understand each man better than by examining their lives in isolation. This approach also affords many insights into the factors that impel special individuals to lead great paradigm shifts. Today, as American society still struggles to come to grips with the impact of racial integration and controversies over the teaching of evolution, it is more important than ever to understand how two nineteenth-century men with revolutionary ideas helped to shape the present.

Genres: History

365 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

David R. Contosta is professor of history at Chestnut Hill College. He earned his Ph.D. in history at Miami University of Ohio in 1973.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

I've read quite a bit about these two men, so much of the text was familiar. Even so, the juxtaposition of their lives kept my attention and provided a strong historical context for the impact of their beliefs and actions. As Contosta states on p 135:

A steady and deliberate gathering of facts and putting together a story were habits that Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin shared and that helped them to prevail with great success in such different fields.

Much of the info about the politics behind the Civil War was new to me. For instance:

p 234: Lincoln insisted that the South had started the war. Yet he knew there had been alternatives—some compromise with the South or allowing the Southerners to secede in peace—but he had gone with war, a war that turned out to be more terrible than he or anyone else could have imagined.

And, of course, there are numerous interesting 'tidbits,' such as ...

p 191: As had been his habit in the past, Lincoln took notes on small strips of paper and began writing his speech only after all the notes had been taken down and the slips assembled.

p 207: Nor did Lincoln go out and campaign himself, following the customs of the day, which held that it was not appropriate for presidential candidates to make speeches or public appearances on their own behalf.

This quote from Darwin's letters to his friend Asa Gray broadened my understanding of the man.

p 235: One thing I have always thought that the destruction of Slavery would be well worth a dozen years war.

It never ceases to amaze me that people say they "don't believe in evolution." My guess is that they actually don't understand the concept, unless of course, they're fundamentalists. Here's a piece of info that helps me with my understanding of their disbelief.

p 237: Many religious people of the day continued to agree with the 17thC Archbishop James Ussher that the earth was only 6000 years old, having been created precisely on Sunday Oct 23, 4004 BCE. ... In 1701, his chronology was incorporated into an authorized version of the English Bible and came to be accepted as holy writ by many Bible readers, ...

[Betsy Sloan · Rating 3 out of 5]

the Scopes trial was just a publicity stunt. Scopes didn't even teach science, let alone evolution.