Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection

An American naturalist has well described this little book, as one of the minor classics of evolutional literature. Admirable in its clearness and lucidity, admirable in the evolution of its evolutionary theme, admirable in its portrayal not only of the central figure but of his environment, it is above all admirable in the skill with which it depicts the combined insight and patience, breadth of view and minute attention to detail, strength of intellect and lovable simpleness of character, perseverance and strength of will in one who for long had every excuse to be a confirmed invalid, which characterise Charles Darwin. Professor Poulton's book should appeal not only to biologists, but to all who would gain strength and inspiration from the lifework of a man of whom England may well be proud. Darwin's relations to Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace afford a lesson which smaller men might do well to lay to heart. Inspired by the work of Malthus on Population, Darwin brooded over the subject of competition and struggle for existence for twenty years; he pondered over the store of facts he had amassed during the voyage of The Beagle, ransacked the literature of natural history, tested everything by observation and experiment, discussed the developing theory of natural selection with a few chosen friends such as Lyell and Sir Joseph Hooker, and still refrained from publishing. Mr. Wallace, inspired by the germinal idea derived from the same source, thought out the whole of his theory in a couple of hours, and completed his essay in three days. It was sent to Darwin with the request that if he thought well of it he should send it to Lyell for perusal. Through the urgent persuasion of Lyell and Hooker, Darwin was induced to publish, at the same time as Mr. Wallace's essay, an abstract of his views, together with a letter to Asa