Charles Darwin Autobiography

His groundbreaking The Origin of Species argued that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.

As much as anyone in the modern era, Darwin has changed the course of human thought.

The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, written by Charles Darwin himself is widely considered to be one of the greatest books of all time.

It was published in 1887, five years after Darwin’s death.

Darwin wrote the book, which he entitled Recollections of the Development of My Mind and Character, for his family. He states that he started writing it on about May 28, 1876 and had finished it by August 3.

The book was edited by Charles Darwin’s son Francis Darwin, who removed several passages about Darwin’s critical views of God and Christianity. It was published in London by John Murray as part of The life and letters of Charles Darwin, including an autobiographical chapter.

The omitted passages were later restored by Darwin’s granddaughter Nora Barlow in a 1958 edition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Origin.

This edition was published in London by Collins under the title of The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882, with the original omissions restored, edited and with appendix and notes.

The book covers a range of issues unknown to those who only got a glimpse of the man Charles Darwin through his Origin of Species book.

The background for the Origin of Species is all there : the influences he got from many people on his very particular way of thinking and of experimenting with things, the relationship he had with some of the greatest men of his time, the love of hunting he later hesitatingly abandoned, the love his sisters devoted to him and the difficult relationship he had with his authoritarian (and rich) father.

Overall, Autobiography of Charles Darwin is a masterpiece indeed.