skip to content
Covid-19 virus
COVID-19 Resources

Reliable information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) is available from the World Health Organization (current situation, international travel). Numerous and frequently-updated resource results are available from this WorldCat.org search. OCLC’s WebJunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus issues in their communities.

Image provided by: CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM
The reluctant Mr. Darwin : an intimate portrait of Charles Darwin and the making of his theory of evolution Preview this item
ClosePreview this item
Checking...

The reluctant Mr. Darwin : an intimate portrait of Charles Darwin and the making of his theory of evolution

Author: David Quammen
Publisher: New York : Atlas Books/Norton, ©2006.
Series: Great discoveries.
Edition/Format:  Print book : Biography : English : 1st edView all editions and formats
Summary:
"Charles Darwin was by nature a homebody, a breeder of pigeons, a close student of barnacles--in short, a cautious and deeply shy man. Yet he found himself burdened with a profoundly radical insight. This elusive character, whose theories have had such a revolutionizing impact on our understanding of nature, remains as misapprehended as his most wondrous, frightening idea: "natural selection," the primary mechanism
Rating:

based on 2 rating(s) 2 with reviews

Subjects
More like this

Find a copy in the library

&AllPage.SpinnerRetrieving; Finding libraries that hold this item...

Details

Genre/Form: Biography
Biographies
Named Person: Charles Darwin; Charles Darwin; Charles Darwin; Charles Darwin
Material Type: Biography, Internet resource
Document Type: Book, Internet Resource
All Authors / Contributors: David Quammen
ISBN: 0393059812 9780393059816 9780393329957 039332995X
OCLC Number: 65400177
Description: 304 pages ; 22 cm.
Contents: Home and dry : an introduction --
The fabric falls : 1837-1839 --
The kiwi's egg : 1842-1844 --
Point of attachment : 1846-1851 --
A duck for Mr. Darwin : 1848-1857 --
His abominable volume : 1858-1859 --
The fittest idea : 1860 to the future --
The last beetle : 1876-1882 --
Source notes --
Bibliography --
Acknowledgments --
Index.
Series Title: Great discoveries.
Responsibility: David Quammen.
More information:

Abstract:

Drawing from Charles Darwins secret "transmutation" notebooks and his personal letters, acclaimed science journalist Quammen has sketched a vivid life portrait of the man whose work never ceases to  Read more...

Reviews

User-contributed reviews

WorldCat User Reviews (2)

Good biography of Darwin, gentle enough for high school

by vleighton (WorldCat user published 2013-06-07) Excellent Permalink

  The prose of this book is smooth and lets you read effortlessly. This well-told tale is light enough that it could be enjoyed by a high schooler or by a vacationer on the beach. The Darwin story is one that already has a good plot, and Quammen tells it well. Since the 1980s, there has been...
Read more...  Read more...

  • Was this review helpful to you?
  •   

The Reluctant Mr. Darwin

by VA (WorldCat user published 2007-10-30) Excellent Permalink
A very personal look at Charles Darwin and his reluctance to publish. Included are glimpses at the amount of correspondence and long time frame in the pre-computer age. The intrigue between Darwin and his friends in the scientific community to get Darwin's work published before Wallace's. This is...
Read more...  Read more...
  • Was this review helpful to you?
  •   

Tags

Be the first.
Confirm this request

You may have already requested this item. Please select Ok if you would like to proceed with this request anyway.

Linked Data


\n\n

Primary Entity<\/h3>\n
<http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/oclc\/65400177<\/a>> # The reluctant Mr. Darwin : an intimate portrait of Charles Darwin and the making of his theory of evolution<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:CreativeWork<\/a>, schema:Book<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nlibrary:oclcnum<\/a> \"65400177<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nlibrary:placeOfPublication<\/a> <http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/New_York_City<\/a>> ; # New York<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nlibrary:placeOfPublication<\/a> <http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/vocabulary\/countries\/nyu<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Person\/darwin_charles_1809_1882<\/a>> ; # Charles Darwin<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1219920<\/a>> ; # England.<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/naturalists_england<\/a>> ; # Naturalists--England<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/science_history<\/a>> ; # Science--history<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/27063124<\/a>> ; # Charles Darwin<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/evolutietheorie<\/a>> ; # Evolutietheorie<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/selection_genetic<\/a>> ; # Selection, Genetic<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1034543<\/a>> ; # Naturalists<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Thing\/book_group_discussion_kits<\/a>> ; # Book group discussion kits.<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/history_19th_century<\/a>> ; # History, 19th Century<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/dewey.info\/class\/B\/e22\/<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1034520<\/a>> ; # Natural selection<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Place\/england<\/a>> ; # England.<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/dewey.info\/class\/576.82092\/e22\/<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/natuurlijke_selectie<\/a>> ; # Natuurlijke selectie<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:bookEdition<\/a> \"1st ed.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:bookFormat<\/a> bgn:PrintBook<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:copyrightYear<\/a> \"2006<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:creator<\/a> <http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/37032561<\/a>> ; # David Quammen<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:datePublished<\/a> \"2006<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:description<\/a> \"Traces the twenty-one-year period between Charles Darwin\'s original idea about natural selection and the publication of \"On the Origin of Species,\" in an account that offers insight into his experiences as a cautious naturalist.<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:description<\/a> \"\"Charles Darwin was by nature a homebody, a breeder of pigeons, a close student of barnacles--in short, a cautious and deeply shy man. Yet he found himself burdened with a profoundly radical insight. This elusive character, whose theories have had such a revolutionizing impact on our understanding of nature, remains as misapprehended as his most wondrous, frightening idea: \"natural selection,\" the primary mechanism of evolution. In this concise and powerful biography, David Quammen captures the complex development of Darwin\'s thoughts, showing the celebrated natural scientist in all his apprehensions, doubts, and brilliance.\"--Publisher\'s website.<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:exampleOfWork<\/a> <http:\/\/worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/id\/287015253<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:genre<\/a> \"Biographies<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:genre<\/a> \"Biography<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:inLanguage<\/a> \"en<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:isPartOf<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Series\/great_discoveries<\/a>> ; # Great discoveries.<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"The reluctant Mr. Darwin : an intimate portrait of Charles Darwin and the making of his theory of evolution<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:productID<\/a> \"65400177<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:publication<\/a> <http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/title\/-\/oclc\/65400177#PublicationEvent\/new_york_atlas_books_norton_2006<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:publisher<\/a> <http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Agent\/atlas_books_norton<\/a>> ; # Atlas Books\/Norton<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:url<\/a> <http:\/\/www.loc.gov\/catdir\/toc\/ecip0611\/2006009864.html<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:url<\/a> <http:\/\/catdir.loc.gov\/catdir\/toc\/ecip0611\/2006009864.html<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:workExample<\/a> <http:\/\/worldcat.org\/isbn\/9780393059816<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:workExample<\/a> <http:\/\/worldcat.org\/isbn\/9780393329957<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\numbel:isLike<\/a> <http:\/\/bnb.data.bl.uk\/id\/resource\/GBA728385<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nwdrs:describedby<\/a> <http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/title\/-\/oclc\/65400177<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Related Entities<\/h3>\n
<http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/New_York_City<\/a>> # New York<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Place<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"New York<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/dewey.info\/class\/576.82092\/e22\/<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/dewey.info\/class\/B\/e22\/<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Agent\/atlas_books_norton<\/a>> # Atlas Books\/Norton<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nbgn:Agent<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Atlas Books\/Norton<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Person\/darwin_charles_1809_1882<\/a>> # Charles Darwin<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:birthDate<\/a> \"1809<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:deathDate<\/a> \"1882<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:familyName<\/a> \"Darwin<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:givenName<\/a> \"Charles<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Charles Darwin<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Place\/england<\/a>> # England.<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Place<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"England.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Series\/great_discoveries<\/a>> # Great discoveries.<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nbgn:PublicationSeries<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:hasPart<\/a> <http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/oclc\/65400177<\/a>> ; # The reluctant Mr. Darwin : an intimate portrait of Charles Darwin and the making of his theory of evolution<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Great discoveries.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Great discoveries<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Thing\/book_group_discussion_kits<\/a>> # Book group discussion kits.<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Thing<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Book group discussion kits.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/evolutietheorie<\/a>> # Evolutietheorie<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Evolutietheorie<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/history_19th_century<\/a>> # History, 19th Century<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"History, 19th Century<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/naturalists_england<\/a>> # Naturalists--England<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nrdfs:seeAlso<\/a> <http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/authorities\/subjects\/sh2008108341<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Naturalists--England<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/natuurlijke_selectie<\/a>> # Natuurlijke selectie<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Natuurlijke selectie<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/science_history<\/a>> # Science--history<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Science--history<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/experiment.worldcat.org\/entity\/work\/data\/287015253#Topic\/selection_genetic<\/a>> # Selection, Genetic<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Selection, Genetic<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/id.loc.gov\/vocabulary\/countries\/nyu<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Place<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\ndcterms:identifier<\/a> \"nyu<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1034520<\/a>> # Natural selection<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Natural selection<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1034543<\/a>> # Naturalists<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Intangible<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Naturalists<\/span>\"@en<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/id.worldcat.org\/fast\/1219920<\/a>> # England.<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Place<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"England.<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/27063124<\/a>> # Charles Darwin<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:birthDate<\/a> \"1809<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:deathDate<\/a> \"1882<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:familyName<\/a> \"Darwin<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:givenName<\/a> \"Charles<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"Charles Darwin<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/37032561<\/a>> # David Quammen<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:Person<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:birthDate<\/a> \"1948<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:familyName<\/a> \"Quammen<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:givenName<\/a> \"David<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:name<\/a> \"David Quammen<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/worldcat.org\/isbn\/9780393059816<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:ProductModel<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:isbn<\/a> \"0393059812<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:isbn<\/a> \"9780393059816<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/worldcat.org\/isbn\/9780393329957<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \nschema:ProductModel<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:isbn<\/a> \"039332995X<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:isbn<\/a> \"9780393329957<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n
<http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/title\/-\/oclc\/65400177<\/a>>\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0a \ngenont:InformationResource<\/a>, genont:ContentTypeGenericResource<\/a> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:about<\/a> <http:\/\/www.worldcat.org\/oclc\/65400177<\/a>> ; # The reluctant Mr. Darwin : an intimate portrait of Charles Darwin and the making of his theory of evolution<\/span>\n\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nschema:dateModified<\/a> \"2019-12-06<\/span>\" ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\nvoid:inDataset<\/a> <http:\/\/purl.oclc.org\/dataset\/WorldCat<\/a>> ;\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0\u00A0.\n\n\n<\/div>\n