Darwin : Portrait of a Genius

by Johnson, Paul

• ISBN13: 9780670025718
• ISBN10: 0670025712
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-10-11
• Publisher: Viking Adult

Summary

Eminent historian Paul Johnson provides a rich, succinct portrait of Charles Darwin Charles Darwin is arguably the most influential scientist of all time. His Origin of Speciesforever changed our concept of the world's creation. Darwin's revolutionary career is the perfect vehicle for historian Paul Johnson. Marked by the insightful observation, spectacular wit, and highly readable prose for which Johnson is so well regarded, Darwin brings the gentleman-scientist and his times brilliantly into focus. From Darwin's birth into great fortune to his voyage aboard the Beagle, to the long-delayed publication of his masterpiece, Johnson delves into what made this Victorian gentleman into a visionary scientist-and into the tragic flaws that later led Darwin to support the burgeoning eugenics movement. Johnson's many admirers as well as history and science buffs will be grateful for this superb account of Darwin and the everlasting impact of his discoveries.

Author Biography

Paul Johnson is an acclaimed historian of extraordinary range whose many bestselling books include Socrates: A Man for Our Times, Jesus: A Biography from a Believer, and Churchill. He has written for The Spectator, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many other publications. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

A Heritage of Genius, and Its Shadow	p. l
Education and Self-Education of a Scientist	p. 15
The Loss of God	p. 37
The Making of a Masterpiece	p. 65
Among the Apes and Angels	p. 87
How the Great Botanist Missed an Opportunity	p. 111
Evils of Social Darwinism	p. 123
Triumph and the Reversal of Natural Selection	p. 137
Further Reading	p. 153
Index	p. 155
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