The Huxleys: An intimate history of evolution By AlisonBashford, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. 2022. pp. 576. $30 (Cloth)

Evolutionary biologist Julian Huxley's personal library is preserved in the archives of Rice University (Houston, TX, USA), where he taught briefly 1910s. It contains scientific publications, such as T. H. Morgan's findings new genetics; popular science books, like George Schaller's The Year Gorilla (1963)1; Science and Synthesis (1967), proceedings a symposium on Albert Einstein Pierre Teilhard de Chardin organized by Unesco, which Huxley directed 1946–19482; well studies psychedelics occult, his brother Aldous Doors Perception (1954).3 These eclectic works encapsulate world Julian, now best remembered for writings across wide range fields. Alison Bashford's beautiful highly readable history “is an effort to interpret [this] library's meaning, intellectual ecosystem modern natural human sciences” (p. 413). In fact, not only Julian's 20th-century volumes but also grandfather Thomas Henry 18th- 19th-century tomes: Comte Buffon's Natural History (1749–1804), Charles Lyell's Principles Geology (1830–1833). Henry, historians defending Darwinism high-profile debate with Bishop Oxford Samuel Wilberforce 1860, was himself prominent public at center Victorian British evolutionary science. Huxleys: An Intimate Evolution, double biography that spans Henry's birth 1825 death 1975, traces 150-year arc biology, anthropology, zoology, literature, psychology, eugenics, imperial politics, more. adept hands, illustrious family serves fascinating lens into rapidly changing politics from era through Cold War. Bashford offers “intimate history” thinking weaving developments biographical elements, including grandfather–grandson pair's shared struggles debilitating depression, their proclivity most all, attempts understand “man's place nature” through—and sometimes against—religion, spirituality, culture. Grappling humanity's relationship world, she writes, enduring project all. defended continuity between animal, largely privileged biology over culture arguing monogenetic singularity species. nuances stereotype him “Darwin's Bulldog,” aggressively selection against clergy establishment. Instead, skeptic who slowly hesitantly came around because thought it scientifically verifiable friendship Darwin. be widely accepted 1870s. But time wrestling humans' nature 50 years later, Mendelian genetics had challenged some Darwin's theories, especially mechanism inheritance. Some biologists started question once Amid these doubts, one loyal defenders contributed reconciliation Darwinian so-called synthesis. father Leonard penned poem “The Inheritor” commemorate birth; ironically, who—in inheriting ultimately doubtful grandfather—was its vigorous champions. Evolution steeped politics. unflinching her portrayal support imperialism white superiority nonwhite peoples, promotion eugenics. conducted research skulls knowingly stolen aboriginal gravesites argued indigenous people Tierra del Fuego Tasmania were “living ancients.” context American Civil War, confessed sister Tennessee “no sympathy ‘black man’” contended slavery should ended sake morality “the man” 305). grandson believed “Family Man” racial prejudice class privilege 1939 Geneticists' Manifesto4 asserted hierarchical. Malthusian fears population growth, endorsed sterilization forms fertility men women, artificial insemination “preferred” donor sperm. For both Huxleys, if theory reworked similarities differences other species, did same within Human difference was, each them, much biological political philosophy. Ultimately, maintains, Huxleys considered humans free inherently unequal. Within worlds imperialism, hand, African decolonization, Huxleys' rarefied social milieus indelibly shaped investigations what are. all accomplishments work, two (especially Julian) inhabited rich literary environment wrote extensively audiences. According Bashford, practiced known communication, becoming skilled practitioners first half 20th century. lectured working-class men, published version lecture Crayfish (1880)5 so greeted Germany Crayfish” 149). gave up academic career write wildly introductory zoological text Life (1929) G. Wells P. Wells6; regularly appeared radio; made number films, Oscar-winning Private Gannets (1934)7; magazines addition own books. His Cambridge-educated mother Julia Arnold part storied Matthew Mary (who under married name Mrs. Humphry Ward). grew aunt technically appraising poems. He remained close Aldous, perhaps Brave New World (1932),8 corresponded about writing. even met wife Juliette Baillot Garsington Manor, English cultural modernism times hosted Virginia Woolf, S. Eliot, Katherine Mansfield. details how put skills use championing “evolutionary humanism” expanded evolution holistic cosmology. him, united wondrous spirit matter progressed evolutionarily. This neo-Romantic vision would have opposed. older naturalism emphasized empirical evidence metaphysical religious explanations. (He coined term “agnostic” proclaim absence creator, epistemological assertation saw distinct atheism.) Both champions understood conveyed radically different ways. Against conventional narrative drove secularization disenchantment nineteenth twentieth centuries, juxtaposes holism present story re-enchantment. Two numerous images this book arc: analysis respective portraits, holds skull signifies “nature,” symbolizing secular trustee humankind. Igbo wooden sculpture Nigeria “culture,” standing unity spirituality. rise Darwinism, illustrates, denote ascendance “nature” “culture.” With relatively secure century, sought capture wonder our reaching beyond “nature.” bookish texts; testament voracious appetite. magisterial biography—which deserves libraries scientists alike—Bashford conveys those us, intimacy messiness, while providing illuminating digestible account sciences 150 years. might very long-lived man developments. Indeed, despite seem postwar contexts, they working inexhaustible nature.” Scientists today continue inquiry.