Origins
Selected Letters of Charles Darwin, 1822-1859. Anniversary edition.
Published on 24. April 2008
Book
Hardback
286 pages
978-0-521-89862-1 (ISBN)
Description
Charles Darwin changed the direction of modern thought by establishing the basis of evolutionary biology. This fascinating selection of letters, offers a glimpse of his daily experiences, scientific observations, personal concerns and friendships. Beginning with a charming set of letters at the age of twelve, through his university years in Edinburgh and Cambridge up to the publication of his most famous work, On the Origin of Species in 1859, these letters chart one of the most exciting periods of Darwin's life, including the voyage of the Beagle and subsequent studies which led him to develop his theory of natural selection. Darwin's vivid writing style enables the reader to see the world through his own eyes, as he matures from grubby schoolboy in Shropshire to one of the most controversial thinkers of modern times. This is a special Anniversary Edition of the best-selling Burkhardt: Charles Darwin's Letters: A Selection, 1825-1859
Reviews / Votes
'... the letters remind us of the sheer brilliance of the man ... Darwin commented that 'If any man wants to gain a good opinion of his fellow men, he ought to do what I am doing, pester them with letters'. The judicious choice of letters presented ... reveal the truth of Darwin's statement, as his personality and trains of thought are revealed. His geniality, thoroughness and tenacity as he progressed as a scientist also shine through. Furthermore the letters offer a wider insight into the development of science at a key moment in history. ... highly recommended.' BiologistMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Illustrations
6 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
566 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-89862-1 (9780521898621)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
09/1998
Cambridge University Press
€22.27
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Frederick Burkhardt (1912-2007) was the founder of the Charles Darwin Correspondence Project, and the associated high profile book series The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press, 1985- ). He was President of the American Council of Learned Societies from 1957 to 1974, and in 2003 was awarded the American Philosophical Society Thomas Jefferson Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences.
Content
Foreword Stephen Jay Gould; Introduction; Note on the text; Acknowledgements; Symbols and abbreviations; Prologue; Shrewsbury; Edinburgh; Cambridge; The offer; The voyage: South America - East Coast; The voyage: South American - West Coast; Homeward Bound; 1837; 1838; 1839-1843; 1844; 1845-1846; 1847; 1848; 1849; 1850; 1851; 1852-1854; 1855.