The reluctant Mr. Darwin
Subtitle: an intimate portrait of Charles Darwin and the making of his theory of evolution
By: David Quammen
Edition: 1st ed
Series: Great discoveries
Publisher: Atlas Books/Norton
Published: 2006
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 304
ISBN-13: 9780393059816
Subjects: Darwin, Charles, -- 1809-1882; Natural selection; Naturalists -- England -- Biography
Genres: Biography
Description: "Charles Darwin was by nature a homebody, a breeder of pigeons, a close student of barnacles--in short, a cautious and deeply shy man. Yet he found himself burdened with a profoundly radical insight. This elusive character, whose theories have had such a revolutionizing impact on our understanding of nature, remains as misapprehended as his most wondrous, frightening idea: "natural selection," the primary mechanism of evolution. In this concise and powerful biography, David Quammen captures the complex development of Darwin's thoughts, showing the celebrated natural scientist in all his apprehensions, doubts, and brilliance."--Publisher's website.

Traces the twenty-one-year period between Charles Darwin's original idea about natural selection and the publication of "On the Origin of Species," in an account that offers insight into his experiences as a cautious naturalist.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 271-283) and index
Table of contents: title: Home and dry: an introduction; title: The fabric falls: 1837-1839; title: The kiwi's egg: 1842-1844; title: Point of attachment: 1846-1851; title: A duck for Mr. Darwin: 1848-1857; title: His abominable volume: 1858-1859; title: The fittest idea: 1860 to the future; title: The last beetle: 1876-1882