Charles Darwin

Allen, Grant, 1848-1899Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 334K words
Chapters: 34

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Charles Darwin by Grant AllenAuthor: Allen, Grant, 1848-1899,Language: English, Class: QH: Science: Natural history, Release Date: Dec 23, 2010

Editor's review

This biography of Darwin by Grant Allen is one of the more readable early studies of Darwin. In an accessible style, the author traces Darwin's life and intellectual path, situating the growth of a scientist within the intellectual and social context of nineteenth-century Britain. He covers both the voyage and the accumulation of observations, and the doubts and persistence that marked the formation of Darwin's theory. For today's readers, its value lies not in offering the latest research findings but in showing how Victorian intellectuals understood Darwin and his contributions; this period perspective is itself of historical and reading interest. The book is a public-domain English eBook of moderate length and relatively plain language, suitable as an introductory work for understanding the outline of Darwin's life and as supplementary material before or after reading On the Origin of Species. It works well for分段 reading during commutes, on weekends, or in English extensive-reading courses.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Darwin's life and nineteenth-century history of science
Learners who want to practice extensive reading of biography using original English materials
Readers who want background before reading On the Origin of Species
Those interested in Victorian biographical writing

Not a good fit for

Researchers seeking the latest findings of contemporary Darwin scholarship
Beginners who are not comfortable with English originals and need a Chinese translation
Readers expecting systematic exposition of scientific theory rather than life narrative

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents and chapter summaries to grasp the chronological narrative structure.
Read with a map of Darwin's voyage to follow the expedition route.
Jot down unfamiliar names and terms, and look them up after finishing each chapter.
For English extensive reading, read one chapter a day and write two or three summary sentences.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable as an up-to-date reference for Darwin studies?

Not really. It is an early Darwin biography reflecting the understanding of the author's time. It is good for the outline of Darwin's life and the early reception history; for the latest research, consult contemporary works in the history of science.

How difficult is the English? Can non-English majors read it?

The language is generally popular narrative rather than academic prose; anyone with college-level English reading ability can attempt it. Some nineteenth-century names, places, and scientific terms may be unfamiliar, so use a dictionary and read slowly.

Do I need to read On the Origin of Species first?

No. The biography focuses on Darwin's life and intellectual background, and it is fine to read first; it also provides personal and historical context for reading On the Origin of Species later. If you have already read the Origin, the biography deepens your understanding of how the theory took shape.

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About the author

Allen, Grant, 1848-1899 Author

Grant Allen (1848–1899) was a late nineteenth-century British writer known both for science writing and fiction. Thirty of his works are held in the collection, spanning science fiction, detective stories, social novels, and popular science essays. His novel The Woman Who Did stirred controversy for its treatment of female independence and marriage morality; An African Millionaire presents humorous satire through the serial exploits of the swindler Colonel Clay; Hilda Wade and Miss Cayley's Adventures create determined female protagonists. In popular science, Falling in Love With Other Essays on More Exact Branches of Science and Anglo-Saxon Britain show his skill in making science accessible, while Biographies of Working Men focuses on ordinary laborers. Public information on his life is limited, but his works reveal a gift for combining scientific reason with popular narrative, giving him a place in late Victorian popular literature.