Charles Darwin

The original "big idea" book that changed natural science and transformed humanity's understanding of their place in the world--and remains controversial to this day. First published in 1859, On the Origin of Species introduced Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection to the world and, by extension, the role of evolution in natural biology and species development. By inferring through observation that species evolved over an immense amount of time, Darwin was able to articulate the basis of ideas like common descent, the struggle for survival, and inherited variance. Manifold and deeply destabilizing to their 19th century audience, the implications of natural selection reverberated across religion, philosophy, the liberal arts, and if course the scientific community. Drawn from years of observations and written for a non-scientific audience, On the Origin of Species is a classic that truly changed the world.

In The Descent of Man, Charles Darwin applied his revolutionary theory of evolution to the human story. Having avoided discussion of human evolution in On the Origin of Species – believing the subject too provocative – in his final major work (1871) Darwin ignited a firestorm of controversy by arguing that humans descended from primates. It also outlined his radical theory of sexual selection for the first time and argued that female mate choice had profoundly shaped divergent racial characteristics, within a unified human family. Modern scholars have since argued that the book’s core ideas on race were informed by Darwin's hatred of slavery. This elegant facsimile edition has been reproduced from an antique Victorian copy from the Library or the Natural History Museum, London. It’s presented in imitation leather binding with delicate gold foiling, decorative end papers and a gold ribbon marker. Named by Sigmund Freud as 'one of the ten most significant books' ever written, this landmark work offers insights that continue to influence scientific thought today.

The first annotated edition of the book that shocked the Victorian world and continues to generate controversy todayWhen Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man was published in 1871, the book was an immediate sensation. It presents Darwin's account of how we evolved from primates and expounds his theory of sexual selection, which he believed accounted for human origins and diversity. James Costa and Elizabeth Yale bring Darwin's Descent to new life in this authoritative annotated edition, shedding light on the cultural context in which the legendary naturalist developed his ideas and exploring how subsequent generations of scientists, scholars, and social reformers adapted them. Informative and in-depth commentaries accompany the text of The Descent of Man, enabling readers to engage with Darwin's ideas and contextualize them in light of our current understanding of human evolution and sexual selection. Costa and Yale show how Darwin's antislavery commitments and his beliefs in European superiority shaped his account of the evolution of human difference, and examine how Victorian beliefs about gender informed the development of his theory of sexual selection. They explain where Darwin's arguments about the origins of human differences line up with modern science—and where they don't. Spanning the boundaries of history and science, this fully annotated edition illuminates the rich cultural and scientific contexts underpinning Darwin's ideas and introduces his landmark book to a new generation of readers.

The Autobiography of Charles Darwin offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the mind of one of history's most influential scientists. Written in 1876 for his family, this candid memoir traces Darwin's life from his early years and education to the development of his groundbreaking theory of evolution by natural selection. With humility and reflective insight, Darwin discusses his scientific journey, personal beliefs, and the challenges he faced in presenting ideas that would transform biology and the understanding of life itself. He also touches on his views of religion, morality, and the natural world. Honest, thoughtful, and deeply human, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin is not only a chronicle of scientific discovery but also a portrait of intellectual curiosity and integrity.