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Evolutionary Writings: Including the Autobiographies

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This unique anthology brings together a marvelous collection of Darwin's most accessible and significant writings, providing the most fully rounded picture of his ideas to be found in a single volume. This marvelous book presents readers with the key chapters of his most important books, including excerpts from the Journal of Researches on the Beagle Voyage (1845), the Origin of Species (1859), and the Descent of Man (1871), along with the full, authoritative text of Darwin's delightful autobiography Recollections.

These writings are accompanied by generous selections of responses from Darwin's nineteenth-century readers, providing a keen sense of the original controversy sparked by his ideas. The wide-ranging Introduction by James A. Secord explores the global impact and origins of Darwin's work and the reasons for its unparalleled significance today. The book also includes a map of the Beagle 's voyage, a biographical appendix identifying everyone mentioned in the texts, illustrations from the Journal of Researches, and an index. This generous collection of Darwin's finest writings will make a superb introduction to ideas that truly changed the world.

For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

485 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

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About the author

Charles Darwin

2,369 books3,405 followers
Charles Robert Darwin of Britain revolutionized the study of biology with his theory, based on natural selection; his most famous works include On the Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871).

Chiefly Asa Gray of America advocated his theories.

Works of Jacques Martin Barzun include Darwin, Marx, Wagner (1941).

Charles Robert Darwin, an eminent English collector and geologist, proposed and provided scientific evidence of common ancestors for all life over time through the process that he called. The scientific community and the public in his lifetime accepted the facts that occur and then in the 1930s widely came to see the primary explanation of the process that now forms modernity. In modified form, the foundational scientific discovery of Darwin provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life.

Darwin developed his interest in history and medicine at Edinburgh University and then theology at Cambridge. His five-year voyage on the Beagle established him as a geologist, whose observations and supported uniformitarian ideas of Charles Lyell, and publication of his journal made him as a popular author. Darwin collected wildlife and fossils on the voyage, but their geographical distribution puzzled him, who investigated the transmutation and conceived idea in 1838. He discussed his ideas but needed time for extensive research despite priority of geology. He wrote in 1858, when Alfred Russel Wallace sent him an essay, which described the same idea, prompting immediate joint publication.

His book of 1859 commonly established the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature. He examined human sexuality in Selection in Relation to Sex , and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals followed. A series of books published his research on plants, and he finally examined effect of earthworms on soil.

A state funeral recognized Darwin in recognition of preeminence and only four other non-royal personages of the United Kingdom of the 19th century; people buried his body in Westminster abbey, close to those of John Herschel and Isaac Newton.

Her fathered Francis Darwin, astronomer George Darwin, and politician, economist and eugenicist Leonard Darwin.

(Arabic: تشارلز داروين)

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Susu.
1,781 reviews19 followers
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August 3, 2011
Instead of digging through the whole volumes of Darwin´s writings - this selection gives a good impression of the most important books and Darwin´s own way of expression. It shows how careful he developed his theory and how he tried to foresee all possible kinds of discussions and arguments.

The autobiography looks like just a rough outline. A naturalist dissecting himself - very interesting.
Profile Image for Sarah.
261 reviews7 followers
October 14, 2022
Read in books or sections over (has it been so long!?) nearly 10 years. The Origin of Species and The Descent of Man are iconic; history-making; hopefully decreasingly controversial(?); required reading for thinkers; required reading for everyone.
Profile Image for Lianne Rogers.
30 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2025
Very interesting to read from Darwin’s point of view, and his most interesting writings were all joined together in this book. Read for school.
Profile Image for Julia.
67 reviews23 followers
July 21, 2011
I originally picked this up at my local library for a school project I was doing on 19th century literature but I decided to hold on to it and complete it because I became very interested in reading for myself the great and mysterious works of Charles Darwin. Since I was a little girl I was told that he was the great man that started the world thinking about evolution and I was pleasantly surprized by the ease with which I understood his explanations and arguments. This collection contains exerpts from four of his works and I found them all quite fascinating. If you look past the glaring racism and sexism and focus on the more concrete facts and observations, it's quite a tough argument. I also really enjoyed knowing that evolution and Darwinism is a generally accepted view at least in the modern western world but when this was first published it was rather mind-blowing and detrimental to the integrity of the Church.
I greatly encourage more people to pick up some non-fiction and just expand your mind about the past, present and future ideas of your fellow human beings. You may just learn some fascinating things.
2,772 reviews9 followers
December 16, 2016
A huge tome that is a must for Darwin fans.
A lengthy introduction leads onto the meat of the book "The evolutionary writings" section.
It includes accounts from his "Journal of researches" "Origin of species" and "Descent of man."
Whilst at the back of the book there are excerpts from his life, his personal recollections and also other peoples reactions to his writings with broad ranging opinions from people of the day right upto some points from modern times.
Very comprehensive and great for dipping into and learning more about the widely regarded most important works of this prolific writer.
Profile Image for Pavel.
100 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2010
I read only parts of this volume. I vermy much enjoyed the short autobiography of Charles Darwin contained in this volume, "Recollectios of the Development of My Mind and Character". It's honest, modest, insightful, and at places funny. Truly reveals the character of Darwin's mind.
Profile Image for Thor.
111 reviews
March 18, 2013
The introduction by Richard Dawkins is a short-course in itself. I read only the autobiographies, and did so with gusto.
Profile Image for Zackary.
107 reviews8 followers
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March 25, 2018
This is exactly what it claims to be. It is interesting and highly informative.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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