The Autobiography of Charles Darwin (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading)

By Charles Darwin and Brian Regal

Charles Darwin was an old man when he sat down to write a few words about his life. He was also famous, possibly the most famous man of his day. From the moment of the publication of his book The Origin of the Species (1859), which challenged the traditional view of Creation, he found himself at the center of a storm which still rages.

A shy, often sickly and retiring man, Darwin did his best to stay out of that storm, but in 1876, after all the years of insults and accolades, Darwin decided to speak for himself. He did not intend his autobiography to be for public consumption. Rather, he wanted to explain himself to his family and, by way of moral lessons and anecdotes, to guide them in their lives. The Autobiography is an intriguing example of the genre and gives us the opportunity to glimpse the inner feelings of one of the most influential men of modern history, a man who changed the world with an idea.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Release date: Sep 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781411429178

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin was born on 12th February 1809. He studied medicine at Edinburgh University for two years before going up to Christ's College Cambridge. Between 1831 and 1836 he sailed on the survey ship HMS Beagle, and the subsequent Journal of the Voyages of the Beagle brought him some fame and repute as a popular author. In 1859 Darwin published On The Origin of Species, which went through six editions, each noticeably revised. These were followed in 1871 by The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex in which he first fully applied his ideas of evolution to the human species. As well as the works directly related to the subject of evolution, Darwin published on subjects such as botany, ecology, the geology of South America, the expression of emotions in animals and man, and the comparative study of barnacles. Darwin had fathered ten children with his wife Emma, though three had died in infancy or childhood, and he himself died on 19th April 1882. He was buried, after some controversy, in Westminster Abbey.

Reviews for The Autobiography of Charles Darwin (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading)

[teamjayandres · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A delightful read. Much more enjoyable than I had anticipated.

[jamesfallen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Revealed short periods of his lift but gives good insight into Darwin's thinking.

[devil_llama · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A re-release of Darwin's autobiography 100 years after the release of his most famous book. This release restored a great deal that had been abridged from the original release of his autobiography at the request of his wife, Emma. Darwin's musings on religion are now returned to this work, written for his children. A fine work, elegantly written and easy to read.

[booktacular · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good quick read, though it focuses heavily on his works on only lightly on family and internal thoughts. If you wish to know more about Darwin the man then I'd suggest his letters and correspondence. Or The Voyage of the Beagle.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A bit dry, but I still found it interesting as it pertains to his thought processes and reasoning. As a bonus, his down-to-earth and unassuming demeanor was very endearing.