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The Darwin Conspiracy
From the author of the bestselling Neanderthal comes this novel of gripping suspense and scientific conquest–a page-turning historical mystery that brilliantly explores the intrigue behind Darwin and his theory of evolution.It’s 1831, and aboard HMS Beagle the young Charles Darwin sets off down the English Channel for South America. More than 150 years later, two ambitious scholars pursuing their obsession with Darwin (and with each other) come across the diaries and letters of Darwin’s daughter. What they discover is a maze of violent rivalries, petty deceptions, and jealously guarded secrets, and the extraordinary story of an expedition embarked upon by two men. Only one returned–and changed history forever.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
45 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
John Darnton
15 books54 followersJohn Darnton has worked for The New York Times for forty years as a reporter, editor, and foreign correspondent. He is the recipient of two George Polk Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. He is also the author of five novels, including The Darwin Conspiracy and the best seller Neanderthal. He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
August 30, 2014
Este era um livro que teira de ler, pois sou um grande admirador de Charles Darwin, no entato, o livro enganou-me redondamente, por diversos factores.
Apesar de ler a sinopse, pensei que este seria um livro mais técnico contando a vida e obra de Charles Darwin, assim o foi, mas certamente, não como imaginaria.
Directamente não parece, mas, para uma melhor compreensão da obra, é bom ter assente algumas ideias da teoria da selecção natural e quem foi: Wallace, Lyell, Erasmus, Darwin ou Lamarck.
A obra é contada sobre três prespectivas diferentes (que de início torna-se estranho, mas que ao longo da história o leitor toma uma ideia diferente, achando fenomenal): a do próprio Darwin na viagem do Beagle, a da sua filha Lizzie e a dos investigadores Hugh e Beth.
Achei incrível, como assemelhamos algumas caracteristicas de personagens de prespectivas diferentes, tomo como exemplos:
- Hugh e Lizzie: os dois são grandes investigadores, verdadeiros espiões, no caso de Lizzie para descobrir a vida do seu pai, Darwin. Hugh pela procura de algo interessante ainda não descoberto sobre Darwin.
- Tio Ras (de Lizzie) e Tio de Darwin: Ambos acolhem na seu lar, os seus conterrâneos, quando ambos fizeram algo de mal na sua juventude.
- Depressão de Cal e a doença de Darwin: Estes ficaram nestes estados, por terem o peso na sua consciência de que algo fizeram mal.
- A culpa de Hugh pela morte do seu irmão Cal e a culpa de Darwin pela morte do seu rival Robert McCormick: Ambos acharam que tiveram culpa nas mortes, o que não é uma verdade absoluta.
Adorei toda a ironia e todo o sarcasmo, que John Darton dota em Darwin para com o seu rival, adorei todos os conhecimentos que o capitão Fitzroy nos expõe.
Foram diversos os aspectos que me agradaram ao longo da obra. As muitas voltas que a história dá, as mudanças repentinas na história, deixando o leitor confuso, mas que quando se apercebe da nova realidade acha fenomenal.
Das três prespectivas, a que mais me agradou foi a de Lizzie, que era-me uma desconhecida, as suas cartas, o seu romance com Litchfield, a sua investigação e a sua espionagem a Darwin, simplesmente deliciaram-me.
São imensos os enigmas que nos são apresentados, muitas vezes comparando-me com Lizzie ou com Hugh, o enigma da morte de Cal e Nuit de Feu achei-os brilhantes. Felizmente a maioria dos enigmas só são revelados nos últimos capítulos tornando-os em capítulos de cortar a respiração, mexendo com o sistema nervoso do leitor, principalmente quando percebemos o que foi a Nuit de Feu e de qual o seu significado.
Ao terminar a leitura da obra, ficou-me uma dúvida: qual o verdadeiro "pecado" de Darwin? Na minha opinião, encontrei quatro, é certo que uns são mais graves que outros, mas não deixam de ser "pecados".
Para concluir deixo duas citações que a meu ver resumem todo o livro:
"vocês, Engleses, sabem menos da vida do que nós, pobres Yamana"
"Uma adivinha embrulhada num mistério dentro de um enigma"
Apesar de ler a sinopse, pensei que este seria um livro mais técnico contando a vida e obra de Charles Darwin, assim o foi, mas certamente, não como imaginaria.
Directamente não parece, mas, para uma melhor compreensão da obra, é bom ter assente algumas ideias da teoria da selecção natural e quem foi: Wallace, Lyell, Erasmus, Darwin ou Lamarck.
A obra é contada sobre três prespectivas diferentes (que de início torna-se estranho, mas que ao longo da história o leitor toma uma ideia diferente, achando fenomenal): a do próprio Darwin na viagem do Beagle, a da sua filha Lizzie e a dos investigadores Hugh e Beth.
Achei incrível, como assemelhamos algumas caracteristicas de personagens de prespectivas diferentes, tomo como exemplos:
- Hugh e Lizzie: os dois são grandes investigadores, verdadeiros espiões, no caso de Lizzie para descobrir a vida do seu pai, Darwin. Hugh pela procura de algo interessante ainda não descoberto sobre Darwin.
- Tio Ras (de Lizzie) e Tio de Darwin: Ambos acolhem na seu lar, os seus conterrâneos, quando ambos fizeram algo de mal na sua juventude.
- Depressão de Cal e a doença de Darwin: Estes ficaram nestes estados, por terem o peso na sua consciência de que algo fizeram mal.
- A culpa de Hugh pela morte do seu irmão Cal e a culpa de Darwin pela morte do seu rival Robert McCormick: Ambos acharam que tiveram culpa nas mortes, o que não é uma verdade absoluta.
Adorei toda a ironia e todo o sarcasmo, que John Darton dota em Darwin para com o seu rival, adorei todos os conhecimentos que o capitão Fitzroy nos expõe.
Foram diversos os aspectos que me agradaram ao longo da obra. As muitas voltas que a história dá, as mudanças repentinas na história, deixando o leitor confuso, mas que quando se apercebe da nova realidade acha fenomenal.
Das três prespectivas, a que mais me agradou foi a de Lizzie, que era-me uma desconhecida, as suas cartas, o seu romance com Litchfield, a sua investigação e a sua espionagem a Darwin, simplesmente deliciaram-me.
São imensos os enigmas que nos são apresentados, muitas vezes comparando-me com Lizzie ou com Hugh, o enigma da morte de Cal e Nuit de Feu achei-os brilhantes. Felizmente a maioria dos enigmas só são revelados nos últimos capítulos tornando-os em capítulos de cortar a respiração, mexendo com o sistema nervoso do leitor, principalmente quando percebemos o que foi a Nuit de Feu e de qual o seu significado.
Ao terminar a leitura da obra, ficou-me uma dúvida: qual o verdadeiro "pecado" de Darwin? Na minha opinião, encontrei quatro, é certo que uns são mais graves que outros, mas não deixam de ser "pecados".
Para concluir deixo duas citações que a meu ver resumem todo o livro:
"vocês, Engleses, sabem menos da vida do que nós, pobres Yamana"
"Uma adivinha embrulhada num mistério dentro de um enigma"
February 28, 2021
When I selected this book, coming recently from The Flat-Earth Conspiracy, I judged from the title that it would attempt a debunk of Darwin's claims. To the contrary, upon reading the back, I found this was actually pro-evolution, giving something of a "Dan Brown treatment" to the famous Beagle voyage. Anyway, I was slightly dismayed to find so many negative reviews on Goodreads, thinking I might be in for a long one. The book, in my opinion, was actually very enjoyable though.
As the writer himself says, The Darwin Conspiracy is something of an alternate-historic drama. Three separate stories are interweaved:
1) A couple of present-day American anthropologists and Darwin buffs who stumble upon the secret diaries of Darwin's daughter, Elizabeth.
2) Elizabeth's diary, detailing the troubled and ailing condition of her father after his theory blows up in the public sphere.
3) A dramatized account of Darwin's adventure on the Beagle.
I find the father of Evolution (well, kind of) interesting enough already. But John Darnton, who isn't a bad writer at all, does a marvellous job exploring the philosophical/religious conflicts amongst Darwin, Fitzroy the Christian fundamentalist Beagle captain, and another little-known naturalist who attended the voyage called McCormick. The parts surrounding Hugh and Beth in modern England, and even the later parts of Elizabeth's diary, do lose the heat a little. Hugh and Beth were really not that interesting to me. But the story of Darwin himself, during and after his voyage and publication of the Origin of Species was highly entertaining. Probably a bit controversial in some of its claims, and even silly towards the end. (Won't spoil anything but the ending climax between Darwin and McCormick was a bit over-the-top; and the inspiration of Darwin's theory seemed a bit ludicrous as well. Who knows though? Maybe it is true nonetheless).
Anyway, I could have just given this three stars. But I am deciding it deserves one extra for the fact that its stronger aspects really do lift it up to something more special than I had been expecting. Not to mention it has stirred my already-considerable interest in reading Darwin's official Voyage of the Beagle.
As the writer himself says, The Darwin Conspiracy is something of an alternate-historic drama. Three separate stories are interweaved:
1) A couple of present-day American anthropologists and Darwin buffs who stumble upon the secret diaries of Darwin's daughter, Elizabeth.
2) Elizabeth's diary, detailing the troubled and ailing condition of her father after his theory blows up in the public sphere.
3) A dramatized account of Darwin's adventure on the Beagle.
I find the father of Evolution (well, kind of) interesting enough already. But John Darnton, who isn't a bad writer at all, does a marvellous job exploring the philosophical/religious conflicts amongst Darwin, Fitzroy the Christian fundamentalist Beagle captain, and another little-known naturalist who attended the voyage called McCormick. The parts surrounding Hugh and Beth in modern England, and even the later parts of Elizabeth's diary, do lose the heat a little. Hugh and Beth were really not that interesting to me. But the story of Darwin himself, during and after his voyage and publication of the Origin of Species was highly entertaining. Probably a bit controversial in some of its claims, and even silly towards the end. (Won't spoil anything but the ending climax between Darwin and McCormick was a bit over-the-top; and the inspiration of Darwin's theory seemed a bit ludicrous as well. Who knows though? Maybe it is true nonetheless).
Anyway, I could have just given this three stars. But I am deciding it deserves one extra for the fact that its stronger aspects really do lift it up to something more special than I had been expecting. Not to mention it has stirred my already-considerable interest in reading Darwin's official Voyage of the Beagle.
April 4, 2013
Darnton has done it again, presenting a great novel, full of scientific history and challenging the mainstream view. While past bookshave tackled medical and anthropological phenomena, the author pulls out all the stops and challenges the foundation of Darwin’s evolutionary discoveries. He also posits some theories as to why it took so long to present his findings to the public, and some biographical nuggets. Told in a three person narrative, the story flips from the present, to Darwin’s own journals, to letters written by Darwin’s daughter, the story progresses and weaves itself all together. Darnton does not simply cut and paste the known information, nor does he sit on his hands and let history present the story. While not scandalous, anyone with a great interest in reading some possible alternate history may enjoy this book.
Darnton has a knack for excellent writing and thoroughly challenges the foundations of the mainstream. The reader, at least one who is open to fact and fiction’s love-child, will thoroughly enjoy these open-ended ideas and might rush out to check on some of the key facts presented here. Could Darwin really be a fiery man rather than a calm gentleman presented to the world? What about his theories… could they really be his or is it possible he only co-authored them? Darnton plants these seeds and many more… all for the reader’s pleasure.
Kudos, Mr. Darnton. Excellent work! I am sure to push this book onto others, who like the entertainment and historical value.
Darnton has a knack for excellent writing and thoroughly challenges the foundations of the mainstream. The reader, at least one who is open to fact and fiction’s love-child, will thoroughly enjoy these open-ended ideas and might rush out to check on some of the key facts presented here. Could Darwin really be a fiery man rather than a calm gentleman presented to the world? What about his theories… could they really be his or is it possible he only co-authored them? Darnton plants these seeds and many more… all for the reader’s pleasure.
Kudos, Mr. Darnton. Excellent work! I am sure to push this book onto others, who like the entertainment and historical value.
August 23, 2018
Iniciei a leitura com a promessa de conhecer um dos mais notáveis Homens da Ciência, que terá dado um contributo ímpar no conhecimento da Natureza. Contudo, sendo este um livro ficcionado com factos e documentos históricos à mistura, será lícito corromper ou criar sérias dúvidas sobre o carácter de Darwin e da legitimidade da sua descoberta?
Fiquei na expectativa de no final da obra ver melhor esclarecido por parte do autor, mas achei as explicações insuficientes.
Sendo assim, fiquei com um amargo de boca. Se por um lado gostei da história e da forma como foi contada, do conhecimento da época e de toda a envolvência de como se terá chegado à teoria da evolução, por outro considero que "o pecado" terá sido de John Darnton ao incorrer em criar suspeições.
Fiquei na expectativa de no final da obra ver melhor esclarecido por parte do autor, mas achei as explicações insuficientes.
Sendo assim, fiquei com um amargo de boca. Se por um lado gostei da história e da forma como foi contada, do conhecimento da época e de toda a envolvência de como se terá chegado à teoria da evolução, por outro considero que "o pecado" terá sido de John Darnton ao incorrer em criar suspeições.
December 30, 2012
O Pecado de Darwin é um título que tem tanto de ambicioso como de decepcionante. Um título que, ao contrário do original do livro, deixa logo antever um pecado de Darwin e foi precisamente com esse interesse que me propus a ler este livro.
Darwin é, inquestionavelmente, um dos Grandes Nomes da Ciência. Assim, quanto a mim, é necessário uma grande dose de coragem para se elaborar um trama cujo principal tema é algo que Darwin “fez” e que esteve por detrás da origem da célebre teoria da Selecção Natural.
Este livro é uma obra de ficção. Não me recordo de ter lido uma referência clara à ficção, mas o percurso que o autor desenha é obrigatoriamente ficcional tal a diminuta referências existentes em relação à vida familiar de Darwin.
No entanto, para dar maior credibilidade à história, o autor tenta desmontar um embuste que estaria por detrás da teoria de Darwin. Não vou aqui referir qual, mas para isso a história é descrita em três perspectivas. A do próprio Darwin enquanto jovem a bordo do Beagle, diários de Elizabeth (uma das filhas de Darwin) e de dois investigadores que, na actualidade, compreendem estarem no rasto de um terrível segredo que irá colocar em causa a credibilidade de Darwin.
O trama está bem construído, saltitando entre essas três perspectivas de uma forma coerente e equilibrada. No entanto não posso deixar de registar o imenso incómodo que o livro me proporcionou. Não que Darwin seja uma figura para mim fascinante, mas sim porque o autor coloca em causa a reputação desse homem. Mesmo sendo ficção, acredito que muitos do que irão ler o livro ficarão com a ideia que Darwin não é aquilo que sempre se disse que era e isso, a meu ver, é algo que, independentemente da obra ficcional e história, deveria ser defendida pelo editor e pelo autor, algo que não fazem, criando sim a ideia que a história narrada tem fundamento.
Achei rebuscada a forma como, principalmente os investigadores tinham a acesso a cartas e diários do próprio Darwin e filha. Sempre por acaso e por vezes até sabiam onde se dirigir, as informações vinham cair-lhes à mãos, informações essas, por vezes, bombásticas. Pessoalmente penso que esses factos ajudam a dar uma áurea de “faz de conta”, porém é notório também a intenção do autor em criar um clima de “teoria da conspiração”, clima esse que nunca convence.
Darwin é, inquestionavelmente, um dos Grandes Nomes da Ciência. Assim, quanto a mim, é necessário uma grande dose de coragem para se elaborar um trama cujo principal tema é algo que Darwin “fez” e que esteve por detrás da origem da célebre teoria da Selecção Natural.
Este livro é uma obra de ficção. Não me recordo de ter lido uma referência clara à ficção, mas o percurso que o autor desenha é obrigatoriamente ficcional tal a diminuta referências existentes em relação à vida familiar de Darwin.
No entanto, para dar maior credibilidade à história, o autor tenta desmontar um embuste que estaria por detrás da teoria de Darwin. Não vou aqui referir qual, mas para isso a história é descrita em três perspectivas. A do próprio Darwin enquanto jovem a bordo do Beagle, diários de Elizabeth (uma das filhas de Darwin) e de dois investigadores que, na actualidade, compreendem estarem no rasto de um terrível segredo que irá colocar em causa a credibilidade de Darwin.
O trama está bem construído, saltitando entre essas três perspectivas de uma forma coerente e equilibrada. No entanto não posso deixar de registar o imenso incómodo que o livro me proporcionou. Não que Darwin seja uma figura para mim fascinante, mas sim porque o autor coloca em causa a reputação desse homem. Mesmo sendo ficção, acredito que muitos do que irão ler o livro ficarão com a ideia que Darwin não é aquilo que sempre se disse que era e isso, a meu ver, é algo que, independentemente da obra ficcional e história, deveria ser defendida pelo editor e pelo autor, algo que não fazem, criando sim a ideia que a história narrada tem fundamento.
Achei rebuscada a forma como, principalmente os investigadores tinham a acesso a cartas e diários do próprio Darwin e filha. Sempre por acaso e por vezes até sabiam onde se dirigir, as informações vinham cair-lhes à mãos, informações essas, por vezes, bombásticas. Pessoalmente penso que esses factos ajudam a dar uma áurea de “faz de conta”, porém é notório também a intenção do autor em criar um clima de “teoria da conspiração”, clima esse que nunca convence.
July 29, 2009
Disclaimer: I listened to this book on audio while on a road trip. I love to take in books this way, but I admit it comes with distractions.
Still, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this book much more in print. For one thing, I've been experiencing conspiracy fatigue. Deep down I think we all want there to be some big conspiracies out there. But as I look at our leaders, and how frantically they are just trying to keep up in the rat race, my heart tells me most conspiracy theories are just so much hullabaloo as we run headlong into anti-climax.
This novel left me feeling that way, unfulfilled and foolish for having supposed a deep dark secret was out there waiting.
Still, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this book much more in print. For one thing, I've been experiencing conspiracy fatigue. Deep down I think we all want there to be some big conspiracies out there. But as I look at our leaders, and how frantically they are just trying to keep up in the rat race, my heart tells me most conspiracy theories are just so much hullabaloo as we run headlong into anti-climax.
This novel left me feeling that way, unfulfilled and foolish for having supposed a deep dark secret was out there waiting.
July 21, 2021
Terrível, terrível! Só não dei 1 estrela porque gostei de ler a versão romantizada da viagem de Darwin no Beagle e gostei também da narrativa de Lizzie. Tudo o resto foi penoso e a maneira como o protagonista descreve a outra personagem feminina principal é absolutamente nojenta.
Toda a narrativa em volta destas personagens fictícias foi um tormento. Foi criado demasiado drama sobre ninharias, e mesmo quando se tratava de eventos ou ocasiões importantes, era tudo demasiado exagerado. A "investigação" destes dois "investigadores" foi demasiado conveniente para poder sequer ser considerada emocionante.
Toda a narrativa em volta destas personagens fictícias foi um tormento. Foi criado demasiado drama sobre ninharias, e mesmo quando se tratava de eventos ou ocasiões importantes, era tudo demasiado exagerado. A "investigação" destes dois "investigadores" foi demasiado conveniente para poder sequer ser considerada emocionante.
February 17, 2019
The mystery at the back of this "conspiracy" is not meant to be a nail-biting suspense story; it's the unraveling of ways of perception and received ideas.
What was enticing about this book is the way Darnton makes clear that history is what you take away from the facts. At the personal level, the contemporary character is beset with the sense of angst, guilt, dread about his relation to his brother's death. He learns over the course of the novel how to re-situate himself with the same set of facts, and the personal negative feelings vanish (albeit leaving room for sorrow at his brother's misfortune). In world of Lizzie Darwin, the facts of her life exceed what she is able (or willing) to make of them. That is, she will not betray nor humiliate her father. Unlike the contemporary hero, Darwin himself is unable to shake his guilt (in circumstances that are at best ambiguous), and he makes of himself a murderer, and he leads the last 50 years of his life in mental and physical agony.
And larger still is the whole concept of Darwinism, which is just a shifting of the lens of history and ways of thinking to accommodate another way of being/thinking. As with the Copernican revolution, which shifted humankind's understanding of the relation of our planet with the rest of the cosmos, Darwinism shifted humankind's relation with the world, nature, and god. At a very practical level, neither Copernicanism or Darwinism matter in the least: they are just received ideas which have little bearing on lives. At the same time, however, both were revolutionary revisions of the world that cleared away mental superstructures that impeded thought. What's striking about the confab with the Yamana elder is the contrast between young Darwin's articulation of the incredible architecture of the Judeo-Christian ethos and the Yamana elder's pragmatic, Occam razor's view of the world: it is what it is. "A spear thrown at me by a man is not the work of some devil or angel or god working through him."
What was enticing about this book is the way Darnton makes clear that history is what you take away from the facts. At the personal level, the contemporary character is beset with the sense of angst, guilt, dread about his relation to his brother's death. He learns over the course of the novel how to re-situate himself with the same set of facts, and the personal negative feelings vanish (albeit leaving room for sorrow at his brother's misfortune). In world of Lizzie Darwin, the facts of her life exceed what she is able (or willing) to make of them. That is, she will not betray nor humiliate her father. Unlike the contemporary hero, Darwin himself is unable to shake his guilt (in circumstances that are at best ambiguous), and he makes of himself a murderer, and he leads the last 50 years of his life in mental and physical agony.
And larger still is the whole concept of Darwinism, which is just a shifting of the lens of history and ways of thinking to accommodate another way of being/thinking. As with the Copernican revolution, which shifted humankind's understanding of the relation of our planet with the rest of the cosmos, Darwinism shifted humankind's relation with the world, nature, and god. At a very practical level, neither Copernicanism or Darwinism matter in the least: they are just received ideas which have little bearing on lives. At the same time, however, both were revolutionary revisions of the world that cleared away mental superstructures that impeded thought. What's striking about the confab with the Yamana elder is the contrast between young Darwin's articulation of the incredible architecture of the Judeo-Christian ethos and the Yamana elder's pragmatic, Occam razor's view of the world: it is what it is. "A spear thrown at me by a man is not the work of some devil or angel or god working through him."
August 20, 2017
The Darwin Conspiracy is a bloated, overwritten novel that was at times painful to read. The novel constantly flashes back from modern times, following Hugh and Beth, two grad students who follow the works of Darwin and come across the conspiracy described in the title, and to Darwin in his voyage on the Beagle, and then to the diary entries of one of Darwin’s daughters. I wasn’t a big fan of the constant flipping back and forth from modern time to the past and the constant shifts in points of view that accompanied it, but that was the least of this novel’s problems.
There were many things I didn’t like about this novel, but chief among them was that it was overly long for the story it was trying to tell. There was so much fluff in this novel that it could easily have been cut in half and not missed a beat. It seems to me as if the publisher wanted a certain word count, and the author didn’t have a long enough story to tell so he filled it with needless back story, side plots that were inconsequential, and as much fluff as he could muster. Beyond that, the characters were not terribly interesting. Finally, the novel tried to hype this massive, awe inspiring conspiracy for hundreds of pages, and when it finally did the reveal at the end, it had the amazing accomplishment of both being underwhelming and completely unbelievable. This is not a novel that is worth your time and money.
Carl Alves – author of Two For Eternity
There were many things I didn’t like about this novel, but chief among them was that it was overly long for the story it was trying to tell. There was so much fluff in this novel that it could easily have been cut in half and not missed a beat. It seems to me as if the publisher wanted a certain word count, and the author didn’t have a long enough story to tell so he filled it with needless back story, side plots that were inconsequential, and as much fluff as he could muster. Beyond that, the characters were not terribly interesting. Finally, the novel tried to hype this massive, awe inspiring conspiracy for hundreds of pages, and when it finally did the reveal at the end, it had the amazing accomplishment of both being underwhelming and completely unbelievable. This is not a novel that is worth your time and money.
Carl Alves – author of Two For Eternity
May 5, 2024
Was wel leuk hoe het afwisselde tussen heden verleden en brieven en zo het mysterie werd opgelost
March 22, 2011
O Pecado de Darwin retrata não só o contexto biográfico de Charles Darwin, apresentando a sua vivência familiar e social, como dá a conhecer de um modo compreensível toda a teoria criada por Darwin – a teoria da evolução.
Toda a explicação científica é construída com base na viagem que o naturalista britânico realizou a bordo do HMS Beagle, mas tudo de um modo suave.
John Darnton foi sem dúvida merecedor do Pulitzer. Embora não tenha ganho o prémio com este livro, o leitor rapidamente capta o porquê de tal reconhecimento.
Com a sua escrita cativante e rica o autor narra os factos históricos tão sublimemente que o leitor viaja até à essência de cada descrição, como se tivesse a capacidade de ver e entender cada personagem. A linguagem e a estrutura frásica utilizadas conseguem fazer a união perfeita entre a riqueza de uma boa narrativa e o mero entretenimento para quem o lê.
Excelente para quem aprecia uma obra bem escrita e considera fundamental adquirir conhecimento concreto de acontecimentos que ocorreram efectivamente.
Seria benéfico apenas que o autor tivesse, no final da obra, feito a distinção de quais os factos que são hipoteticamente verdadeiros e fizeram parte da vida do pai da teoria da evolução.
Toda a explicação científica é construída com base na viagem que o naturalista britânico realizou a bordo do HMS Beagle, mas tudo de um modo suave.
John Darnton foi sem dúvida merecedor do Pulitzer. Embora não tenha ganho o prémio com este livro, o leitor rapidamente capta o porquê de tal reconhecimento.
Com a sua escrita cativante e rica o autor narra os factos históricos tão sublimemente que o leitor viaja até à essência de cada descrição, como se tivesse a capacidade de ver e entender cada personagem. A linguagem e a estrutura frásica utilizadas conseguem fazer a união perfeita entre a riqueza de uma boa narrativa e o mero entretenimento para quem o lê.
Excelente para quem aprecia uma obra bem escrita e considera fundamental adquirir conhecimento concreto de acontecimentos que ocorreram efectivamente.
Seria benéfico apenas que o autor tivesse, no final da obra, feito a distinção de quais os factos que são hipoteticamente verdadeiros e fizeram parte da vida do pai da teoria da evolução.
January 31, 2008
This is a historical novel with a twist of alternative history. The conspiracy has nothing to do with the efficacy of natural selection, but why would Darwin not want to say where he got the idea in the first place. If I say anymore I'll ruin the plot.
Here's a review of the book from my PageADay Book Lover's calendar:
EXPLAIN THIS!
When two scientists locked in a rivalry over Charles Darwin come across some papers of Darwin’s daughter’s, they are forced to regard their hero in a different light. Apparently Darwin was also locked in a bitter scientific rivalry when he went on the voyage of the Beagle . . . and his nemesis never returned from that fateful voyage. Marvelous period details and research give this exciting thriller an enjoyable edge.
THE DARWIN CONSPIRACY, by John Darnton (Anchor, 2006)
Here's a review of the book from my PageADay Book Lover's calendar:
EXPLAIN THIS!
When two scientists locked in a rivalry over Charles Darwin come across some papers of Darwin’s daughter’s, they are forced to regard their hero in a different light. Apparently Darwin was also locked in a bitter scientific rivalry when he went on the voyage of the Beagle . . . and his nemesis never returned from that fateful voyage. Marvelous period details and research give this exciting thriller an enjoyable edge.
THE DARWIN CONSPIRACY, by John Darnton (Anchor, 2006)
April 8, 2012
I was torn between two and three stars for this one, but I did enjoy it. It was a bit slow in places but was interesting. I was troubled by how easy the two protagonists were able to uncover the "conspiracy." It often seemed like things just fell into their laps due to coincidence. The final conclusion is highly unbelievable but still rather entertaining.
May 20, 2025
John Darnton has put a bit of a twist on the Darwin legacy; he has made Charles Darwin a less than likeable character. Most histories and historical recreations of the naturalist paint a picture of a man who gets out of his father's shadow by taking a working voyage around the world, having adventures, doing some serious specimen collecting, and taking good notes. In The Darwin Conspiracy we meet a similar sort of man, but then in a moment of what he himself decides is weakness of character, he sends his life off the rails. Upon returning to England, Darwin becomes a recluse, dogged by mysterious illnesses and very, very slow to produce his great work.
Darnton uses a structure that somewhat reminded me of A.S. Byatt's Possession in that he has two modern graduate students trying to piece together past events while intercalating historical chapters that show the reader what actually happened. While Byatt used this device to show us how we can get the past wrong, Darnton uses it to show two clever people using ingenuity and a bit of luck to get it right. Somehow that is less exciting than Byatt's approach and also a bit more "Whig theory" in its attitude toward historical writing.
Hugh and Beth are somewhat irritating characters in that both of them are apparently extremely good looking and extremely wealthy. It is never at all clear how they are paying for food and shelter, never mind their various adventures. We meet them on a small island in the Galapagos but spend most of the book following them around Cambridge, London, Oxford and the north of England. I enjoyed Darnton's specificity in his descriptions of all these places; it feels very much like you are there too. But it was a bit distracting to have grad students constantly spending money on meals, inns, train tickets and rental cars without any financial strain whatsoever.
The plot is nicely imagined and knit together. Like most alternate histories, it focuses on real historical characters about whom little is known and therefore much can be invented without worrying about contradictions. A key character here is Elizabeth Darwin, one of Charles Darwin's daughters. During a tour of Down House, the guide repeats the presumption that she was "a bit slow" and the reader, who has by now read many of her letters and journals can chuckle to know that Darnton has reimagined her as the cleverest of the children.
While the detective novel aspects of this novel are intricate, for it all to work requires a few too many conveniently helpful minor characters and may a little too much deux ex machina. Darnton, however, is a good writer whose prose is easy to read and not the least bit showy or distracting. He brings you along quickly without rushing. He jumps back and forth between the present and past and also presents chapters that consist of historical documents.
Initially Hugh comes off as a bit of a dull tool, but as he works out his personal problems (a subplot that includes parallels with the main one; a nice touch) the fog seems to lift and by the last quarter of the book his brain seems more engaged and he is impressing even Beth, who heretofore seemed to be doing a lot of the actual thinking.
This book will likely be more rewarding for readers who know more of the history, both about the characters and the science involved, than if you are coming to this cold. Darnton does a lot of exposition and not badly, but if you have never seen the material before, you might find yourself reaching for Wikipedia.
Darnton uses a structure that somewhat reminded me of A.S. Byatt's Possession in that he has two modern graduate students trying to piece together past events while intercalating historical chapters that show the reader what actually happened. While Byatt used this device to show us how we can get the past wrong, Darnton uses it to show two clever people using ingenuity and a bit of luck to get it right. Somehow that is less exciting than Byatt's approach and also a bit more "Whig theory" in its attitude toward historical writing.
Hugh and Beth are somewhat irritating characters in that both of them are apparently extremely good looking and extremely wealthy. It is never at all clear how they are paying for food and shelter, never mind their various adventures. We meet them on a small island in the Galapagos but spend most of the book following them around Cambridge, London, Oxford and the north of England. I enjoyed Darnton's specificity in his descriptions of all these places; it feels very much like you are there too. But it was a bit distracting to have grad students constantly spending money on meals, inns, train tickets and rental cars without any financial strain whatsoever.
The plot is nicely imagined and knit together. Like most alternate histories, it focuses on real historical characters about whom little is known and therefore much can be invented without worrying about contradictions. A key character here is Elizabeth Darwin, one of Charles Darwin's daughters. During a tour of Down House, the guide repeats the presumption that she was "a bit slow" and the reader, who has by now read many of her letters and journals can chuckle to know that Darnton has reimagined her as the cleverest of the children.
While the detective novel aspects of this novel are intricate, for it all to work requires a few too many conveniently helpful minor characters and may a little too much deux ex machina. Darnton, however, is a good writer whose prose is easy to read and not the least bit showy or distracting. He brings you along quickly without rushing. He jumps back and forth between the present and past and also presents chapters that consist of historical documents.
Initially Hugh comes off as a bit of a dull tool, but as he works out his personal problems (a subplot that includes parallels with the main one; a nice touch) the fog seems to lift and by the last quarter of the book his brain seems more engaged and he is impressing even Beth, who heretofore seemed to be doing a lot of the actual thinking.
This book will likely be more rewarding for readers who know more of the history, both about the characters and the science involved, than if you are coming to this cold. Darnton does a lot of exposition and not badly, but if you have never seen the material before, you might find yourself reaching for Wikipedia.
July 12, 2023
Darnton, known for his meticulous research and his ability to integrate history and fiction seamlessly, surpasses himself in this novel. He takes the reader on a journey through the life of Charles Darwin, adding an imaginative layer of conspiracy and secret motives that challenges the known narrative. This speculative angle adds an incredible dimension to the storyline, captivating the reader's imagination and sparking curiosity.
Darnton's depiction of Darwin is both humanizing and compelling. He carefully crafts a multifaceted character that is at once a revered scientist and a man entangled in clandestine machinations. The supporting characters are just as well-drawn, each bringing their unique perspectives to the unfolding plot, contributing to a rich tapestry of personalities.
The plot itself is riveting. Darnton masterfully balances scientific details, historical context, and a suspenseful narrative that keeps the reader on their toes. The pacing is perfect, with each revelation about Darwin's secret activities expertly timed to maximize intrigue and suspense.
Furthermore, the prose is beautifully written, combining detailed, descriptive passages with dialogue that feels genuine for the period. The blend of fact and fiction is handled so elegantly that it becomes almost impossible to distinguish between the two, making for a truly immersive reading experience.
In "The Darwin Conspiracy", John Darnton has once again proven his ability to craft a deeply researched, highly engaging historical novel. It's a book that will satisfy fans of historical fiction, admirers of Darwin, and lovers of a good conspiracy theory alike. A truly outstanding read.
Darnton's depiction of Darwin is both humanizing and compelling. He carefully crafts a multifaceted character that is at once a revered scientist and a man entangled in clandestine machinations. The supporting characters are just as well-drawn, each bringing their unique perspectives to the unfolding plot, contributing to a rich tapestry of personalities.
The plot itself is riveting. Darnton masterfully balances scientific details, historical context, and a suspenseful narrative that keeps the reader on their toes. The pacing is perfect, with each revelation about Darwin's secret activities expertly timed to maximize intrigue and suspense.
Furthermore, the prose is beautifully written, combining detailed, descriptive passages with dialogue that feels genuine for the period. The blend of fact and fiction is handled so elegantly that it becomes almost impossible to distinguish between the two, making for a truly immersive reading experience.
In "The Darwin Conspiracy", John Darnton has once again proven his ability to craft a deeply researched, highly engaging historical novel. It's a book that will satisfy fans of historical fiction, admirers of Darwin, and lovers of a good conspiracy theory alike. A truly outstanding read.
February 18, 2025
If I were rating The Darwin Conspiracy purely as a novel, (based on its storytelling, pacing, and engagement)it might deserve a 3 out of 5. However, given the importance of Darwin’s work, and the insufficient distinctions of fact and fiction, it gets 2. Too much sauce
The biggest issue is that it presents a revised history of one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs without sufficiently clarifying where the fiction begins and ends. For people unfamiliar with Darwin’s life, this could spread misinformation that paints Darwin as a fraud. If a book wants to challenge historical narratives with speculation, it should at least be transparent about it. Since Darnton doesn’t do that effectively, the novel fails as historical fiction. Or maybe Im the one who doesn’t understand the genre and deserve <2 stars as a reader.
The biggest issue is that it presents a revised history of one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs without sufficiently clarifying where the fiction begins and ends. For people unfamiliar with Darwin’s life, this could spread misinformation that paints Darwin as a fraud. If a book wants to challenge historical narratives with speculation, it should at least be transparent about it. Since Darnton doesn’t do that effectively, the novel fails as historical fiction. Or maybe Im the one who doesn’t understand the genre and deserve <2 stars as a reader.
April 8, 2025
Though a historical fiction, this book differs by trying to rewrite rather than embellish history. While there is enough rumor and Conjecture about how original Darwin’s ideas were to fill a library, the fact is that Darwin was the clearest exponent of the theory of natural selection. That such a forceful intellect and physical adventurer is reduced to a petulant hypochondriac in this book seems unfair - we see no sign of brilliance in this Darwin. The love story of Hugh and Beth and Hugh coming to terms with his brothers death don’t yield any insights into the conspiracy or characters- Cals drowning really doesn’t parallel the death of Darwins colleague . Lizzie’s overwrought Victorian sensibilities don’t add much, and too much of the plot is told through letters. Overall it was interesting but unsatisfying.
November 24, 2020
For me, the big thing about this book is the clever way in which it was written. It is almost like three books in one. One story line follows Darwin on his famous trip around the world on the Beagle. Another part is about a young anthropologist, Hugh Kellem, and a Darwin scholar who meet on South American Island and then again in England during modern times. Hugh finds and 'borrows' a diary he finds while researching that is written by Darwin's daughter, Lizzy, who realizes her father is hiding information about his journey.
Some may find this jumping around from one story to another a little confusing, but I had no trouble following all the story lines, and I really enjoyed the book.
Some may find this jumping around from one story to another a little confusing, but I had no trouble following all the story lines, and I really enjoyed the book.
January 10, 2021
Some interesting material here, particularly the story of the early parts of the voyage and a good portrait of Darwin and his family, but the central theme, that Darwin “stole” his theory, breaks down with an unlikely and unscientific source and far too many fortunate “discoveries” of key pieces of evidence by Hugh, an American coping with the drowning death of his brother and his girlfriend Beth, a fellow Darwin researcher he meets on the Galapagos. An unconvincing diary of Darwin’s daughter also detracts from what is potentially a good plot. 2.5 stars
July 21, 2017
This book captured my attention pretty quickly, and held on to it, as a good mystery novel should. The author deftly switched between frames of reference (and centuries of reference), but unfortunately it did not pan out into much of anything at the end. The. Hold up was so great - the tension so well handled - that the author actually undercut his own lackluster ending further with its banality. It was a disappointing payout.
April 18, 2019
As historical fiction goes, I wish there was more of the former and a bit less of the latter. Of course, if there were, it likely would have been a less-engaging story.
It took several chapters to get me interested in Hugh and Beth’s saga but I did eventually buy in. I was hoping for a big reveal in the Afterword that some spark of the, “conspiracy,” was true. Alas, it was but a well-conceived fiction. Of course, it did say, “A Novel,” on the front cover.
A worthy read.
It took several chapters to get me interested in Hugh and Beth’s saga but I did eventually buy in. I was hoping for a big reveal in the Afterword that some spark of the, “conspiracy,” was true. Alas, it was but a well-conceived fiction. Of course, it did say, “A Novel,” on the front cover.
A worthy read.
May 14, 2020
I really enjoyed the history introduced and wanted to learn more about Darwin as a person, but the modern day plot was too easy. How could the protagonist go to London and happen to meet, within a few days, a woman he had known for a week in the Galapagos and the ex-fiance of his deceased brother? What chance would there be that the young woman would be studying Darwin's daughter, as the protagonist was? The coincidences are too many to list.
October 14, 2024
Maybe more like 2.5* - perfectly average.
I wonder how many times the author used a word other than "said" for character dialogue. That's the best I can sum up how dry the characters are; you will not be invested in them whatsoever.
The plot is interesting enough and very unique, though I do think some of the twists were pretty predictable, like what befell Hugh's brother and how the Darwin-McCormick rivalry eventually came to a head.
I wonder how many times the author used a word other than "said" for character dialogue. That's the best I can sum up how dry the characters are; you will not be invested in them whatsoever.
The plot is interesting enough and very unique, though I do think some of the twists were pretty predictable, like what befell Hugh's brother and how the Darwin-McCormick rivalry eventually came to a head.
September 2, 2018
Interesting book and well written. I did not know much about Darwin so some of the history was new to me even though the book was a work of fiction. The book skips back and forth between modern times and Darwin's time. It was done successfully but I am too fond of that construct. It is not very complementary of Darwin or the scientific establishment around him but that is probably not fiction.
July 21, 2017
This got me interested in Darwin and the Beagle.......I'm trying to figure out if Darwin actually was a bit of a creep! I enjoyed the Darwin stuff but the current day story line didn't interest me at all.
June 13, 2020
This is all about Charles Darwin and his great discovery of natural selection...but it's a fictional account with many new twists. After a slow start thing pick up...and in the course of this novel you will learn a great deal about natural history.
Read
July 1, 2020I wonder how Hugh refers to green footed boobies (1st chapter). AFAIK, there are no such birds in Galapagos. Is this a mistake of the author, a trap for the unaware reader or part of a setup of an alternative universe?
December 6, 2021
Diverting historical novel but far too many coincidences thrown in the mix. I like reading about sea voyages and explorations and learned a bit more about Darwin, and liked the modern London details, but the way "evidence" just fell into the lap of the protaganist was a real stretch.
June 1, 2022
On apprend que Darwin était davantage un aventurier opportuniste qu'un découvreur scientifique. On devient le stagiaire de Charles Darwin dans un voyage intimiste et originel. Les textes fluides et la précision des mots rendent ce roman agréable et facile à lire.
November 8, 2023
enjoyable read, ok so I listened to this one. I like historical novels that have factual basis. Well written, great character builds, and some "fun" parts as well. While this book is not to be taken quite literally, getting into the mindset of Darwin at the time was worth the read.
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