Reviews
The ensemble of text and illustrations will render an indelible image of Darwin for those beginning to study him, and evolution, while a brief bibliography points the way to further exploration.
This succinct biography spans Darwin's life in 15 brief chapters and reads like a museum guide, hitting the high points in an easily assimilated style. The copious illustrations, though, including reproductions of period paintings, title page facsimiles, and many of the author's own photographs, are worth poring over and may hold readers' attention longer than it takes to peruse the text. Patrons who want a quick, no-frills but still authoritative read on Darwin's life couldn't find a better source.
A splendid overview derived from a series of lectures, and beautifully illustrated, with a detailed publishing history of all of Darwin's works.
Charles Darwin: The Concise Story of an Extraordinary Man is the best brief biography on the market.
Berra moves quickly through the life, yet finds time to include telling details, as well as sketches of appealing secondary characters.
Berra, a retired professor of evolution who gives popular lectures on Darwin, writes leanly and to the point, but still produces a vivid and detailed portrait.
This work will be useful for introductory students and the general public... Recommended. All undergraduate and public libraries.
This jewel box of a book offers an imminently readable tour of the great man. Every spread includes illustrations with fascinating captions.
Berra has done masterful work, providing a lively and succinct account of Darwin's life that will provide an excellent introduction for the new reader who is interested in Darwin as well as a helpful review for knowledgeable Darwin enthusiasts!
There can be no doubt that this book will be very warmly received by Darwin enthusiasts because it is a passionate, well-informed, entertaining and colourful introduction to his life and achievements.
Book Details
Preface
Introduction
1. An Admirable Pedigree
2. A Privileged Youth
3. Exploration
4. Discovery
5. Maturity
6. A Proposal
7. Life at Down House
8. Correspondence
9. Daily Routine
10. Taxonomy and Selection
11
Preface
Introduction
1. An Admirable Pedigree
2. A Privileged Youth
3. Exploration
4. Discovery
5. Maturity
6. A Proposal
7. Life at Down House
8. Correspondence
9. Daily Routine
10. Taxonomy and Selection
11. Alfred Russel Wallace and The Origin
12. What Darwin Said
13. Darwin's Bulldog
14. A Man of Enlarged Curiosity
15. Darwin's Death
16. Epilogue
Appendixes
A. Books
B. Chronology
C. Darwin Online
D. Dates
References
Index