Charles Darwin An Anthology

Although his name has become a household word after hepublished The Origin of the Species, a one-volume editionof his writings that covers the full gamut of his theoreticalas well as scientific writings has not been available formany years. Charles Darwin: An Anthology, covers theheart of the five books for which the author is best known.This readable volume includes The Autobiography, TheVoyage of the Beagle, The Origin of the Species, The Descentof Man, and The Expression of the Emotion.

The volume also includes parts of Darwin’s less well-knownworks. Although it was published last chronologically,The Autobiography is an ideal beginning to thevolume. A new introduction by the noted anthropologistLionel Tiger underlines the continuing importance ofDarwin’s thinking, and explains why it still infl uencescontemporary scholarship in many fi elds.

These selections have not been rewritten–they arepure Darwin. The dull and the unessential have beeneliminated. What remains is material that best illustratesDarwin’s most important and interesting ideas. Th e selectionmanages as well to retain his most readable prose,while presenting the fundamentals of Darwin’s revolutionarythought. Collectively, the volume paints a picture of animmensely curious and indefatigable mind. This volumealso includes a critical bibliography that will prove valuableto those interested in further reading.

Marston Bates (1906-1974) was an Americanzoologist. His studies on mosquitoesled to the understanding of the causes ofyellow fever in South America. He is theauthor of numerous science books includingThe Land and Wildlife of South Americaand The Nature of Natural History.

Philip S. Humphrey is Curator Emeritusand former Director of the Natural HistoryMuseum at the University of Kansas.

Lionel Tiger is Charles Darwin Professor of Anthropology atRutgers University. He is the author of The Decline of Males, Optimism,The Pursuit of Pleasure, China’s Food, The Manufactureof Evil, Men in Groups, and with Robin Fox, The Imperial Animal.He directs the anthropology publishing eff ort at TransactionPublishers.