The Evolution of Charles Darwin

August 8, 2022
Historian Preston (Eight Days at Yalta) offers a brisk and accessible account of how Charles Darwin developed his theory of natural selection. Though the bulk of the book is a blow-by-blow account of Darwin’s journey aboard the HMS Beagle from 1831 to 1836, Preston shines in her assessment of how the young naturalist’s middle-class background, character (“sociable, usually good-natured, and eager to please”), and worldview (“chauvinistic, nationalistic, and sexist” but also “liberal for the time” and in firm opposition to slavery) contributed to his ideas about evolution. Though Preston relies on familiar sources, including Darwin’s diaries and letters, she expertly mines them to explain how he integrated insights from other thinkers and explorers (Alexander von Humboldt, William Dampier, Thomas Malthus) with his Beagle observations to create a theory of the gradual creation of species over geological time. She also details the social, political, and religious contexts in which Darwin developed his theory, sheds light on his family life, and reveals how naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace’s development of a similar thesis helped push Darwin to finally publish On the Origin of Species in 1859. While somewhat familiar, this is a rewarding look at the development of an earth-shattering idea. Illus.

Starred review from August 1, 2022
An exciting biography of the immortal naturalist's legendary journey. The son of a wealthy, authoritarian father, Charles Darwin (1809-1882) had an agreeable temperament and obediently studied medicine and theology. However, he performed poorly due to his fascination with natural history. In 1831, he was asked to join the Beagle as both a naturalist and companion to its captain, Robert FitzRoy, and he had little trouble overcoming his father's veto. Prizewinning historian Preston mines the massive existing documentation, including firsthand accounts by Darwin and FitzRoy, to create a compelling account of the five-year voyage, during which Darwin observed, collected, preserved, and packed thousands of plants and animals and tons of fossils and rocks to send back to England. Spending more than half his time on shore, he traveled thousands of miles by horse, mule, or foot, often suffering intensely and relying for protection, food, and hospitality on horsemen, ranchers, soldiers, and local officials. Unlike most world travelers who wrote their books and got on with their lives, Darwin thought deeply about his observations and, unhappily, concluded that they contradicted the traditional account of Creation, which almost everyone took for granted. Species varied from place to place, and differences grew when creatures better adapted to an environment thrived at the expense of those less adapted. He called this natural selection. Preston rightly points out that Darwin did not discover evolution. Thinkers throughout history speculated that life was ever changing, but no one explained how. Natural selection was the first testable explanation, and Darwin's On the Origin of Species delivered the evidence. The book appeared at a critical historical moment, becoming an international sensation and bestseller--though not everyone saw the light. It was well into the 20th century before essentially all scientists agreed that Darwin was on the right track. Since then, biographies have poured off the presses, but readers cannot go wrong with this expert account. An irresistible scientific biography and adventure story with a happy ending.

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Starred review from October 1, 2022
The circumnavigation of the world by the HMS Beagle in the 1830s aimed to help mapmakers by updating charts for the far tip of South America. Initially most interested in the geology of lands along the route, Charles Darwin hopped aboard the ship as a naturalist, acclimating himself to ship routines and learning to work with the Beagle's captain. While much has been written about Darwin's revolutionary scientific achievements on this journey, historian Preston (Eight Days at Yalta, 2020) sheds light on the voyage itself, its captain and crew, and the Native populations they encountered. Darwin proved as observant of the terrain as of its flora and fauna, correctly predicting earthquake damage as the Beagle sailed part of the Pacific's Ring of Fire. He studied the residents of Tierra del Fuego and the isles of Oceania with less judgment than many of his more imperial-minded British contemporaries. Returning to Britain after five years at sea, Darwin sorted through his observations to produce On the Origin of Species. He also married, and Preston delights in reporting Darwin's orderly approach to finding a mate. Darwin never sailed again but continued his research and publishing till his death in 1882.

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