Readers will learn, from these selections, about Darwin the family man, as well as the context of Darwin's achievements in several developing research fields of the Victorian Age. Darwin knew and cultivated the friendship of such scientists as Sir Joseph Hooker, Alfred Russell Wallace, Richard Owen, Adam Sedgwick, and Thomas Henry Huxley. He conducted an enormous correspondence with all who could aid him in his work. Their name is legion; it is sampled here, and constitutes one of the marvels of Darwin's century.

HAROLD OREL, born in Boston in 1926, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and earned his academic degrees at the University of New Hampshire (B.A. cum laude, 1948) and the University of Michigan (M.A., 1949, and Ph.D., 1952). He has held teaching appointments at the University of Michigan, the University of Maryland, and the University of Kansas. Promoted to University Distinguished Professor in 1974, and winner of the Higuchi Prize for outstanding research in the Humanities (1990), he has lectured in England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, India, and Japan, and on two occasions delivered the Oration at Thomas Hardy ceremonies in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey. He has served as President of the American Committee of Irish Studies, and since 1978 has been Vice President of the Thomas Hardy Society, England. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Introduction Charles Darwin, 'Preliminary Notice' Charles Darwin, 'An Autobiographical Fragment' Charles Darwin, 'The Early Years', 'The Walking Tour in North Wales' Charles Darwin, 'Joining Captain Fitz-Roy on H.M.S. Beagle ' Robert Fitz-Roy, 'Darwin Helps Save the Lifeboats of H.M.S. Beagle ' Sir Bartholomew James Sulivan, 'Impressions of Charles Darwin' Darwin as a Welcome Guest, in Harriet Martineau's Autobiography 'Owen Studies a Darwin Specimen', in The Life of Richard Owen Charles Darwin, 'The Death of Anne Elizabeth Darwin' Alfred Russel Wallace, 'A Developing Friendship with Darwin' 'Adam Sedwick's Reaction to The Origin of Species ', in The Life and Letters of the Reverend Adam Sedgwick 'The Quarrel Between Owen and Darwin', in The Life of Richard Owen 'A Great Friendship', in Life and Letters of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker 'Sir Charles Lyell and The Origin of Species ', in Life, Letters and Journals of Sir Charles Lyell, Bart. 'A Family Friend Comments of The Origin of Species', in Harriet Martineau's Letters to Fanny Wedgwood 'A Philosopher Comments on The Origin of Species ', in An Autobiography by Herbert Spencer 'Henslow Comments on Marriage, and on Sedgwick's Attack Against Darwin', in Darwin and Henslow/The Growth of an Idea/Letters 1831-1860 'The Great Debate' in Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley 'How Darwin Encouraged Galton', in Memories of My Life, by Francis Galton 'A Character Sketch by Darwin's Son', in The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin 'The Deaths of Erasmus and Charles Darwin', in Life and Letters of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker Thomas Henry Huxley, 'Charles Darwin', Thomas Henry Huxley, 'The Darwin Memorial'