Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist

by Adrian Desmond, James Moore

Overview

"Unquestionably the finest [biography] ever written about Darwin. . . . Darwin has now become, and properly, the quintessentially socially embedded scientist. Desmond and Moore are brilliant in their pursuit of this truly unifying theme."—Stephen Jay Gould

Hailed as the definitive biography, this monumental work explains the character and paradoxes of Charles Darwin and opens up the full panorama of Victorian science, theology, and mores. The authors bring to life Darwin's reckless student days in Cambridge, his epic five-year voyage on the Beagle, and his grueling struggle to develop his theory of evolution.

Adrian Desmond and James Moore's gripping narrative reveals the great personal cost to Darwin of pursuing inflammatory truths—telling the whole story of how he came to his epoch-making conclusions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393311501
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	06/17/1994
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	886
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Adrian Desmond is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Biology Department at University College London. He has written numerous books on evolution and Victorian science.

James Moore is a reader in history of science and technology at the Open University.

What People are Saying About This

Stephen Jay Gould

Unquestionably the finest [biography] ever written about Darwin. . . . Darwin has now become, and properly, the quintessentially socially embedded scientist. Desmond and Moore are brilliant in their pursuit of this truly unifying theme.

Editorial Reviews

"Pick is up and you are hooked, by the racy writing, the memorable turns of phrase, the historical insights and the sheer bravado of their performance."— William Bynum New Scientist

"A book that makes such an astounding physical as well as cerebral impact is a very rare commodity indeed."— Anthony Burgess Observer

"At last, a biography to match the man. . . . Darwin, his family, his colleagues, and his milieu come alive in this book. . . . Superbly written."— Everett Menselson, Harvard University

"Unquestionably the finest [biography] ever written about Darwin. . . . Darwin has now become, and properly, the quintessentially socially embedded scientist. Desmond and Moore are brilliant in their pursuit of this truly unifying theme."— Stephen Jay Gould

From the Publisher