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Darwin's Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution

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A beautifully illustrated volume follows a lesser-known Victorian naturalist and explorer on his global journeys -- and reveals how he developed his own theory of evolution.

Everyone knows Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist who proposed a theory of evolution. But not everyone knows the story of Alfred Russel Wallace, Darwin's friend and rival who simultaneously discovered the process of natural selection. This sumptuously illustrated book tells Wallace's story, from his humble beginnings to his adventures in the Amazon rain forest and Malay Archipelago, and demonstrates the great contribution he made to one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time.

64 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2020

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About the author

Christiane Dorion

21 books9 followers
Christiane Dorion is a children's author who is passionate about the natural world and loves writing about it. Her books have won many awards, including the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize. Originally from Quebec, Canada, Christiane now lives in Surrey in the UK.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Cheryl.
13.1k reviews483 followers
April 26, 2022
I am glad this was written. I always love learning about the secondary characters, the less-famous events, etc. For example the spread about the Rio Negro wants me to learn more about that alternative to the Amazon, just as this is about an alternative to Darwin. After all, the most famous is almost never the only....

However, I am not keen on the design. It's oversize, for no reason that I can tell. The art isn't much of an improvement on the sepia pictures which, I assume, were inspiration. In fact, I wish more primary photos and documents and paintings were shown in picture-book non-fiction. Kids need to learn the value of primary research at some point anyway, why not give them a clue when they're young?

Not to say this is for little kids. I'm guessing age 10 might be the youngest to appreciate it independently?

I hope someone else does something better for children sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, as this is not a bad book, and is very important, I do recommend it to all educators and their children/students.
Profile Image for Vera Godley.
2,007 reviews56 followers
June 8, 2020
Fully recognizing that this picture book biography is about a man's search and endorsement of Darwin's evolution, I still believe that I, who does not embrace the evolutionary concept, can benefit from reading about early scientists and their discoveries. I also think that in non-evolution households that children should be able to learn from books such as this.

The travels and experiences of Alfred Russel Wallace were daunting when he pursued his search for beetles and they are daunting to read about today causing one to marvel and, yes, appreciate the obstacles encountered and his tenacious spirit to forge ahead through various wildernesses throughout the world and make discoveries and comparisons of his findings.

Not only were his travels fraught with discomfort, hardship, and dangers he did not have a wealth of scientific tools with which to work or much scientific basis and discoveries on which to build. It was new. It was hard. It was astounding. He marveled at his findings.

The illustrations are nicely done and representative of Wallace's discoveries.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
Profile Image for Juli Anna.
3,242 reviews
May 8, 2021
This is a superlative natural-history-biography picture book. Wallace is a character I've always been drawn to, and his life and work are well rendered here, and the illustrations feel both classic and fresh. This may be a tad dry for very young children, but for older kiddos who love science and exploration, this is a real gem.
Profile Image for Bridget.
106 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2020
This book is extraordinary. Lets start with its size. It’s large and pulls you into its pages. The illustrations look like they are taken from a nature guide from a hundred years ago, and fittingly so. I understand why we might not need another book about a white male explorer, but Wallace has gone unnoticed for too long. Even the title puts him in Darwin’s shadow. But he exemplified persistence, curiosity for the world, and honor. Those are timeless qualities worth celebrating and this book is a celebration.
Profile Image for Cat Strawberry.
839 reviews23 followers
May 19, 2020
This is such an amazing book about a man who many of us have probably never heard of. ‘Darwin’s Rival: Alfred Russel Wallace and the Search for Evolution’ is a beautiful hardback book that’s bigger than A4 in size though a bit smaller than A3. The cover alone is beautiful with the title and the butterflies embossed. Inside there are thick matt pages filled with lovely illustrations and text.

I had never heard of Alfred Russel Wallace before and I didn’t know that Darwin had a rival when it came to the discovery of evolution, but that is exactly what Wallace was. The book explains who Wallace was, beginning with his childhood and showing us how he developed a love of studying nature. After some attempts at different occupations he soon became fascinated with the idea of studying and collecting the new and exotic species that existed in the rainforest. As you read each double page of the book you find out more and more about his jouney into different countries and the amazing discoveries he made, all the while an idea of evolution forming at the back of his mind.

Everything you read in the book is really fascinating, and I couldn’t put this down, wanting to find out when Wallace finally discovered the idea of evolution and what role Darwin had in his life. Wallace’s journey was far from an easy one and I like the fact all this information about how hard it was, was included in this book. The way the book is written is very interesting and easy to understand and I like the way it ends as we discover what happened with Darwin and how amazingly humble Wallace was throughout his life.

The illustrations in the book are what make this such a beautiful and amazing read. I’ve always loved how interesting and special books from Walker Studio feel, but the images in this one are lovely, feeling both like paintings and at the same time having enough detail to show off the animals, birds, fish and insects in a lot of detail. I don’t think the book would have such appeal if it wasn’t for the pictures that are on every double page.

This really is a great book that I would recommend anyone to read (even adults!), especially if you’ve never heard of Alfred Russel Wallace. It’s such an interesting book showing you how Wallace spent his years exploring unknown areas and how both he and Darwin’s rivalry and relationship developed. It was amazing to read how important his discovery was to the scientific community, and to Darwin too! And you get to read a few quotes from Wallace himself (as well as a brilliant one from Darwin at the end too!).
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
Profile Image for J.L. Slipak.
Author 14 books30 followers
December 19, 2020
Stunning Embossed Cover, Illustrations, and Information!
A beautifully illustrated volume follows a lesser-known Victorian naturalist and explorer on his global journeys — and reveals how he developed his own theory of evolution.

Everyone knows Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist who proposed a theory of evolution. But not everyone knows the story of Alfred Russel Wallace, Darwin’s friend and rival who simultaneously discovered the process of natural selection. This sumptuously illustrated book tells Wallace’s story, from his humble beginnings to his adventures in the Amazon rain forest and Malay Archipelago, and demonstrates the great contribution he made to one of the most important scientific discoveries of all time.

Out March 2020

64 Pages

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say, the cover on this book is just gorgeous! Candlewick Studio hit a home run with this choice. I couldn’t stop touching it and I imagine neither would an inquisitive youngster. As a self-proclaimed naturalist coming from a long line of naturalists, I couldn’t wait to see how Alfred Russel Wallace’s contributions to evolution was presented. It is remarkable to read about all his journeys and what he endured for science.

You have to imagine a time, far in the past, when not much was known about this world. There were no satellites, no technology to explore this world with. The efforts and physical tolls taken on explorers was incredible as were the dangers. The need to know, pressed on those like Wallace and Darwin driving them forward in a determination to solve mysteries, in my opinion, unlike anyone else since.

This book is well-laid out and easy to read and understand with incredible illustrations to enforce the learning experience at a level of understanding to reach young children. I will be keeping this book but using it to mentor special needs adults in their Environmental Studies program. It is full of excellent information and they will benefit from and enjoy the stories between the extraordinary cover. I may try and get a few more to use as text books. I highly recommend it for sensory use since the cover is really amazing and you want to touch it all the time. I love the size, it’s easy to manage, and all school libraries would benefit from knowing more about this contributing explorer.
Profile Image for Karen.
459 reviews10 followers
August 23, 2020
Don't be fooled by the picturebook format, this is a good introduction to Alfred Russel Wallace's achievements, that is informative enough to satisfy even for teens and adults.

This visually beautiful book makes good use of the extra-large format currently popular with children's nonfiction - there are quite a few stunning examples around. The large format allows many illustrations of animals, birds and insects, representative of some of the many species discovered by Wallace.

Wallace's story is an important one, and deserves to be better known - this book does a good job of restoring his place next to Darwin, in terms of his contributions towards the theory of evolution and natural selection.

Two more intriguing points:
- those explorers / scientists in the 1800s and early 1900s - think Darwin, Wallace, the polar explorers - were all absolutely crazy in their willingness to risk their lives for the sake of furthering knowledge. All of them went on very long journeys full of danger and diseases, and were lucky to have lived long enough to make their significant discoveries.
- even in this, a brief kid's book, are there hints about the disadvantage Wallace suffered due to his working class origins - Darwin had an independent income and better connections due to his higher social status; thus he had more resources for conducting his research, and more ability to become known and respected. Wallace did not have money nor connections, and in fact was financially insecure for decades despite his fame. (Luckily, Darwin saw him as a kindred spirit rather than rival, and in fact helped him to secure a pension, one important step towards financial security.)
Profile Image for Sarah T.
17 reviews
October 27, 2020
“Very few things in my life have been more satisfactory to me- that we have never felt any jealousy towards each other, though in one sense rivals.” ~ A letter from Charles Darwin to Alfred Russel Wallace, 1870.

Alfred’s story of a self-made naturalist, whose sense of adventure, along with his relentless and remarkable work, led him to independently discover and provide evidence for the principle of evolution by natural selection, at the very same time as the far revered, Charles Darwin.
Despite what the title of this book suggests, Darwin saw Wallace as a colleague and their simultaneous discoveries were first presented jointly in 1859. This revolutionary theory is accredited to Darwin in collective memory because of his book, The Origin of Species. So humble was Wallace, however, that he remarked that he was thankful that Darwin had put the theory to the world, rather than leaving it to him!

This book will form an essential compassion to my teaching on evolution and inheritance, but is also just one of the most stunning, informative non-fiction picture books I’ve seen. Vivid illustrations capture the wonder of the world that Russel explored, paired with eloquent and compelling text that chronicles the life and work of one of the greatest minds in history. I know my students will love not only learning about the principles of evolution and natural selection in the context of this enticing book, but will be inspired by the humble life of Alfred Russel Wallace.
This beautiful book brings his achievements to the minds of a new generation, who will hopefully grow up recognising the contributions of others- not just Darwin- to this world-changing discovery.
4,101 reviews28 followers
April 11, 2020
This striking book was a perfect pleasure to saunter through from my armchair! Gorgeously designed and illustrated and with an oversized format, the book has the feel of a Victorian field journal complete with sketches of insects, birds, animals and maps. Dorion introduces readers to an important but lesser-known naturalist who developed a theory of evolution at the same time as Charles Darwin. Wallace, who had communicated with Darwin, and his scientific paper spurred Darwin to move forward on publishing his own theory that had been 20 years in the developing. Always admiring of Darwin and extraordinarily humble, Wallace lived his long life somewhat in Darwin's shadow but never seemed to mind that.

Dorion's fascinating account of Wallace, his life and extraordinary journeys and deep curiosity for the natural world is wonderfully written and she incorporates quotes from Wallace's own diaries and writings. Wallace emerges as a truly selfless naturalist and explorer, admirable in his pursuit of knowledge.

Along with the sketches of the creatures Wallace studied, Harry Tennant's digital illustrations include sketches of collector's equipment and depictions of Wallace's travels, these last done in an evocative lino-type style and palette.

This isn't going to be a book for every reader, but for those with a deep interest in nature, an abiding curiosity and the willingness to appreciate this unusual book.
Profile Image for Connie T..
1,642 reviews8 followers
December 22, 2020
This oversized book with a textured cover and beautiful end papers just drew me in and made me want to learn about Alfred Russell Wallace, whom I've never heard of before. At first glance, this looks like a picture book. While it is heavily illustrated with drawings and maps, 61 pages of detailed text make it much more than a picture book.

On the positive side, there's quite a bit of history here, making this both a biography of Wallace and a microhistory of the development of the theory of evolution. The author does a great job of placing Wallace in history and giving the reader a sense of what was happening in the world at that time.
Throughout the book, direct quotes from Wallace's writings appear in a distinct font in separate text boxes.

On the negative side, the illustrations are muted and dull, often using a limited palette of browns and blues. This is discouraging when the author - and even Wallace's own words - describe some specimens as "the most gorgeously colored" butterfly, its beauty and brilliance are indescribable (yet the illustration shows it being a drab yellow and brown) and a "bright gem" of a bird is brown and blue.
Profile Image for YingYu  Chen.
203 reviews7 followers
March 7, 2021
Everyone knows Charles Darwin and this book did bring to my attention with the word "rival" in its title. However, there is hardly anything to show their rivalry. Instead, Wallace is an equal to Darwin, if one should say.

The illustrations are charming, and the words flow. This is a moderate biography for MG and up.

I thought there will be something more about Wallace's feelings after Darwin's speech, and that the world can serve more justice or bring more awareness of Alfred R Wallace and his research. Perhaps that would be too much?

After reading this book, I would look forward to something more about Wallace, in other forms.
Profile Image for Lmichelleb.
397 reviews
March 30, 2023
This was a beautiful biography! I really enjoyed the illustrations of the new species of butterflies and beetles and birds that Wallace discovered as well as the maps of the travels that he took. It would be interesting to read an adult (more in depth) biography of him next. When I see how he and Darwin recognized the adaptations in various species, especially from one island to another nearby island, I wonder how they moved from the conclusion that species can adapt to the conclusion that all species must have a common ancestor. Maybe further reading would show their train of thinking.

This is definitely a lovely and inspiring book that encourages a respect for the beauty of creation.
Profile Image for HK Khor.
10 reviews
November 20, 2020
Informative non-fiction about exploration and scientific discovery. Most are familiar with Darwin, his theory of evolution from his trip to the Galapagos. But Wallace had the same independent idea from the Malay Archipelago! For kids age 8 or older though might be difficult to sustain interest. Lovely drawings of insects and animals. In the tropics, butterflies grow to the size of small birds and are aptly called birdwings. Wallace named many thanks to being the first to document, including the prized Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing. I liked this book lot more than my kids.
Profile Image for Shilo Quetchenbach.
1,796 reviews65 followers
February 28, 2022
Kiddo and I really enjoyed this as a bedtime book. It is very informative and also has beautiful illustrations. There was a nice balance of Wallace's personal history and his journey to becoming a scientist. The quotes are a nice touch, although they were difficult for my 2nd grader to understand. The text clearly explained everything though so it wasn't strictly necessary for them to understand the quotes (which were obviously not written with second graders in mind)
If your kiddo enjoys science/adventure biographies, this is an excellent addition.
Profile Image for Julia.
303 reviews6 followers
January 21, 2021
Calling this a picture book may not do it justice. This is a fairly detailed overview of the life of Wallace with plenty of information and pictures to ponder. My biggest misgiving of this book was at times the writing was difficult to read. The colors and paper tone didn’t always offer enough contrast to see it well. It wasn’t horrible, just kind of difficult at times.
Profile Image for Katey.
331 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2022
This was a gorgeously illustrated and designed book! The layout is almost like a naturalist's field notebook. Exceptionally well done.

It's a compact yet thorough telling of Wallace's story. I have meant to read more about him, and this was a compromise with not being able to get to all the longer books I want.

Profile Image for Debbie.
273 reviews4 followers
September 11, 2022
An informative, beautifully illustrated book that introduced me to one of the great naturalists. I was inspired to buy this after reading "Charlie Thorne and the Lost City," even if that was about Darwin. I also understood now why Veronica Speedwell ("The Unexpected Peril") loves butterflies. Books leading to more books to more books.
Profile Image for Stella.
934 reviews18 followers
January 13, 2025
This oversized picture book biography of Alfred Russel Wallace was sitting on the bottom shelf at the library. I do so enjoy a quality book about evolution. Amazon pegs this for reading age 10 to 13 years old, which sounds about right. Children with a love of nature and some prior knowledge of the theory of evolution might appreciate this book about the lesser known co-discoverer of the theory.
Profile Image for Arvilla.
265 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2020
It's a beautiful, informative book. The only reason I did not give it five stars is because the pacing was a little off at times. Also, the title is deceptive, as the book makes the point that Darwin and Wallace were not competitors.
Profile Image for Edward Sullivan.
Author 6 books226 followers
May 2, 2020
A handsomely designed, elegantly illustrated introduction to the travels and discoveries of the British naturalist who developed his own theory evolution and natural selection independently of his better-known contemporary, Charles Darwin.
1,335 reviews
August 28, 2020
Fascinating biography of a lesser-known scientist whose discoveries rivaled Darwin's in their impact on evolutionary theory. With detailed illustrations and luxuriously textured paper, this would make a gorgeous gift book for STEM-minded young readers.
Profile Image for Ellen.
103 reviews7 followers
July 26, 2021
I loved the giant size of the book, wonderful illustrations and biography of Alfred Russel Wallace.
1,788 reviews8 followers
August 22, 2021
I requested this from the library not realizing it was a children's book. It was really lovely and contained lots of good information. Quite a delight to read.
Profile Image for Bec.
38 reviews19 followers
December 13, 2025
Loved the illustrations and learned a lot!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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