The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: Volume 12, 1864

Description

The Correspondence of Charles Darwin provides, for the first time, the full, authoritative texts of all known and available letters to and from Charles Darwin, the originator of the theory of evolution by natural selection. The letters are accompanied by detailed explanatory footnotes and relevant supplementary materials, and offer unparalleled insight into Darwin's experiments, thoughts, friendships, and family life. Volume 12 of this continuing series contains letters for 1864, when Darwin, despite continuing illness, was carrying out botanical experiments and working on his book, The Variation of Plants and Animals under Domestication. The volume also sheds light on the worldwide reception of Darwin's theory, with letters from correspondents in the United States and Germany, and also on the continuing controversy in Britain, especially with the award of the Royal Society's prestigious Copley Medal to Darwin at the end of the year.

'Nothing in recent history of science quite tops the achievement of the volumes of Darwin correspondence. It is our own Human Genome Project.' Annals of Science 'Every time a new volume in this series appears, researchers have further reason to rejoice.' Isis 'The letters ... are written in elegant and extraordinarily polite terms. They are a delight on those grounds alone although they could daunt modern readers ... the main effect of this book, thought, is astonishment at the staggering effort the five editors put into it.' Roy Herbert, New Scientist 'The latest volume in this epic work suggests why accolades have been spread far and wide for its predecessors. Darwin's correspondence is presented as authoritatively as ever, with the customary attention to supporting documentation.' Paul Wymer, Biologist '... readers ... not already familiar with this magnificent and monumental publication will find this volume and its predecessors a rare treasure. Not only does its scholarship show in its completeness, detailed background notes, and biographical summaries but it also makes fascinating reading.' P. Harper, Human Genetics