The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals

Description

'The force of language is much aided by the expressive movements of the face and body' While On the Origin of Species transformed scientific thinking about life on Earth, Darwin kept silent on the most controversial question of his generation- what was man's place in nature? Provoked by critics, Darwin later broke this silence, focusing attention on features central to our humanity- mind and morality. The Expression of the Emotions is an audacious and thought-provoking book. Powerful ideas are hidden behind simple questions. Why are humans alone in blushing? Why do we understand the expressions of so many animals? Why do all humans instinctively understand the meaning of a smile? This was Darwin's last major work. Here the origins of those qualities we humans hold most dear are revealed. This edition is the rare 1890 second edition of Expression, including notes Darwin made anticipating a revision. Joe Cain's introduction describes the key debates surrounding Darwin, his reasons for producing The Expression of the Emotions and his methods of gathering data. This edition also includes, for the first time, many original striking photographs and line drawings Darwin assembled as part of his research. Edited by JOE CAIN and SHARON MESSENGER with an introduction by JOE CAIN

Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury in 1809 and was educated at Shrewsbury School, Edinburgh University and Christ's College Cambridge. He took his degree in 1831 and in the same year embarked on a five-year voyage on HMS Beagle as a companion to the captain; the purpose of the voyage was to chart the coasts of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, and to carry a chain of chronometric readings round the world. While he was away some of his letters on scientific matters were privately published, and on his return he at once took his place among the leading men of science. In 1839 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Most of the rest of his life was occupied in publishing the findings of the voyage and in documenting his theory of the transmutation of species. On the origin of species by means of natural selection appeared in 1859. Darwin spent many years with his wife - his cousin Emma Wedgwood, whom he had married in 1839 - and their children at Down House in Kent. He died in 1882, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

" He who admits, on general grounds, that the structure and habits of all animals have been gradually evolved will look at the whole subject of Expression in a new and interesting light." -Charles Darwin