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Darwin in letters, 1877: Flowers and honours

Summary

Ever since the publication of Expression, Darwin’s research had centred firmly on botany. The year 1877 was no exception. The spring and early summer were spent completing Forms of flowers, his fifth book on a botanical topic. He then turned to the…

Matches: 2 hits

  • … scholars, including the eminent politician William Ewart Gladstone. Darwin wrote to Gladstone on the …
  • … photographs, and visits from distinguished persons. Gladstone came to Down on 11 March. ‘I expected …

Darwin in letters, 1872: Job done?

Summary

'My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, 'is so nearly closed. . .  What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’, and the tenor of his correspondence throughout the year is one of wistful reminiscence, coupled with a keen eye…

Matches: 20 hits

  • as I can make it’, he wrote to the translator ( letter to JJMoulinié, 23 September 1872 ). He
  • anatomist St George Jackson Mivart ( letter to St GJMivart,  11 January [1872] ). A
  • am made to appear’, complained Darwin ( letter to St GJMivart, 5 January 1872 ). Piqued, …
  • … `fundamental intellectual errors’ ( letter from St GJMivart, 6 January 1872 ). Darwin
  • to think he felt friendly towards me’ ( letter to St GJMivart, 8 January [1872] ).  Despite
  • if only `in another world’ ( letter from St GJMivart,  10 January 1872 ).  Darwin, determined
  • …  but asked Mivart not to acknowledge it ( letter to St GJMivart, 11 January [1872] ). 'I
  • selection is somewhat under a cloud’, he wrote to JETaylor on 13 January , and he complained
  • the theories of natural and sexual selection to bees (HMüller 1872), and with his reply Darwin
  • for myself it is dreadful doing nothing’ ( letter to THHuxley, 22 October [1872] ). He was far
  • rather than offended by `that clever book’ ( letter to JMHerbert, 21 November 1872 ) and
  • by her husband, Richard Buckley Litchfield ( letter to HELitchfield, 13 May 1872 ). Delivery
  • … 'I know that I am half-killed myself’ ( letter to HELitchfield, 25 July 1872 ). A
  • Ayrtons head direct to the Liberal prime minster, William GladstoneMay all your
  • was Darwins wholeheartedly partisan reply ( letter to JDHooker, 14 May 1872 ). On 13 June, a
  • to make one turn into an old honest Tory’ ( letter to JDHooker, 12 July [1872] ). …
  • Charlton Bastians recent book on the origin of life (HCBastian 1872; Wallace 1872d) left him
  • own muscles when attending women in labour ( letter from JTRothrock, 25 November 1872 ); …
  • pleasant letters & never answer them’ ( letter to THHuxley, 22 October [1872] ). But not
  • my life which surprised & gratified me more’ ( letter to JMHerbert, 21 November 1872 ).  …

List of correspondents

Summary

Below is a list of Darwin's correspondents with the number of letters for each one. Click on a name to see the letters Darwin exchanged with that correspondent.    "A child of God" (1) Abberley,…

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Volume 29 (1881) is published!

Summary

In October 1881, Darwin published his last book, The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms: with observations on their habits. A slim volume on a subject that many people could understand and on which they had their own opinions, it went…

Matches: 4 hits

  • signatories, and sent it to the prime minister, William Gladstone. Wallace was relieved and
  • no little jobs which I can do.            Letter to JDHooker, 15 June 1881 The
  • …                       Letter to THFarrer, 28 August 1881 Darwins elder brother
  • …                          Letter t o BJSulivan, 1 December 1881     …

Darwin in letters, 1880: Sensitivity and worms

Summary

‘My heart & soul care for worms & nothing else in this world,’ Darwin wrote to his old Shrewsbury friend Henry Johnson on 14 November 1880. Darwin became fully devoted to earthworms in the spring of the year, just after finishing the manuscript of…

Matches: 16 hits

  • character is of much value to me’ ( letter to C. H. Tindal, 5 January 1880 ). Darwin had employed
  • the whole Kingdom, & even the world’ ( letter from J. L. Chester, 3 March 1880 ). Darwins
  • … , sending one or both to his daughter Henrietta ( letter to H. E. Litchfield, 1 February [1880] ). …
  • he will have the last word’, she warned ( letter from H. E. Litchfield, [1 February 1880] ). ‘He
  • Darwinophobia? It is a horrid disease’ ( letter from T. H. Huxley, 3 February 1880 ). All
  • I was, also, rarely fit to see anybody’ ( letter to S. H. Haliburton, 13 December 1880 ). …
  • and thus one looks to prevent its return’ ( letter from J.-H. Fabre, 18 February 1880 ). Darwin
  • letting them out of their respective bags ( letter from G. J. Romanes, [6, 13, or 20] March 1881 ) …
  • received more attention than the baby!’ ( letter from G. J. Romanes, 17 December 1880 , and
  • biologist of our time’ ( letter from W. D. Roebuck to G. H. Darwin, 25 October 1880 ). The
  • 21 years since the Origin appeared”‘ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 11 [April] 1880 ). While praising
  • been developed through natural selection’ ( letter to T. H. Huxley, 11 May 1880 ). Worthy
  • employment’ ( Correspondence vol. 27, letter from J. D. Hooker, 18 December 1879 ). For some
  • attention to Spiritualism, or to repeat (what you said) to Gladstonethat Spiritualism is not worse
  • directly to the prime minister, drafting a letter to William Gladstone on 15 December 1880 : ‘It
  • … & am never happy except when at work’ ( letter to J. M. Herbert, 25 December [1880] ). …

Fake Darwin: myths and misconceptions

Summary

Many myths have persisted about Darwin's life and work. Here are a few of the more pervasive ones, with full debunking below...

Matches: 1 hits

  • … Many myths have persisted about Darwin's life and work. Here are a few of the more pervasive ones, …