Product Description

'Darwin' provides an unparalleled overview of the great scientist's life and theory of evolution. The story opens with the little-known discoveries before Darwin and then traces Darwin's life from his childhood in Shrewsbury through his education before his life-changing voyage on board HMS Beagle as a naturalist. His great work 'On the Origin of Species' is clearly explained, as well as Darwin's many other revolutionary works. This book is lavishly illustrated with original illustrations and features over 27 illuminating items of facsimile memorabilia, including: handwritten notebooks, diary entries and letters, drafts, notes, sketches and maps that reveal the very fabric of Darwin's life and work.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18155 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 64 pages

About the Author
Dr John van Wyhe is a renowned lecturer and is an historian of science at the University of Cambridge, specializing in Charles Darwin. He is the founder and Director of The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, Bye-Fellow of Christ's College and Member of Council for the British Society for the History of Science. Dr van Wyhe is currently co-editing a volume of Darwin's field notebooks and a volume of his shorter publications. He has written for The Guardian, New Scientist, USA Today and The Independent. He lives in Cambridge.

Customer Reviews

A very special book on Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin is my "hero", he produced the Great Theory of Evolution through observation,simple experiments and networking with other Naturalists. No cloistered university, no mumbo jumbo, he is accessible to the ordinary reader.
2009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.
I have a big collection of Darwin books but "Charles Darwin: The Story of the Man and His Theories of Evolution" is something extra.
This is a book to treasure, a legacy, a book to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin, a special book - one to cherish and enjoy.

Charles Darwin: The Story of the Man and His Theories of Evolution
provides the reader with a biography of Darwin's life and of his great theory of evolution. The story traces Darwin's life from his childhood,his life-changing voyage on board HMS Beagle as a companion to Captain Fitzroy. His great work, "On the Origin of Species" is clearly explained, as well as Darwin's other amazing works. This book is lavishly illustrated and also features many interesting items of facsimile memorabilia, including: diaries, handwritten notebooks, notes and letters, maps & sketches that bring the book alive.
If you buy one book about Charles Darwin this year, I would recommend this.
Also why not visit "Darwins Great idea " exhibition at the Natural History Museum and visit Down House, Darwin's home.

The best one volume biography of Darwin
If you are looking for the best single book about Charles Darwin and his work you can stop looking as this one by John van Wyhe seems to me to be head and shoulders above the rest. It's beautifully put together and has even been made to look like a first edition of the 'Origin of Species'. It tells Darwin's story in a series of episodes, such as 'Born a Naturalist' and 'The Sage of Down', each obviously written by someone who really knows his stuff and each with its own array of superb colour illustrations. I especially like the folding facsimiles of actual Darwin manuscripts, the lovely paintings of animals collected on the 'Beagle' voyage, and the miniature of Darwin's mother Susannah which I have never seen in colour before. All in all a terrific book to celebrate the bicentenary!

This is a very enjoyable book
I would recommed this Darwin book -it is not just for the coffee table - it is a book of some substance. The text is well written and helpfully factual without being overwhelming. The facsimiles are just superb!
I found the information very interesting and well presented with each double page having a theme - I loved pulling out the facsimile letters/ extracts/diaries - it makes it all seem so very close. Lovely item!