The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: Volume 26, 1878

Letters from 1878, when Darwin experimented with his son Francis on plant movements such as sleep and circumnutation.

Charles Darwin (Author), Frederick Burkhardt (Edited by), James A. Secord (Edited by), The Editors of the Darwin Correspondence Project (Edited by)

9781108475402, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 October 2018

814 pages
24.1 x 16.3 x 4.8 cm, 1.36 kg

'The context of each letter is outlined with fine footnotes, there is a brief biography of all correspondents and a thorough, easily searchable index. Pleasure guaranteed for all with an interest in the history of science.' Paul Ashton, The Biologist

This volume is part of the definitive edition of letters written by and to Charles Darwin, the most celebrated naturalist of the nineteenth century. Notes and appendixes put these fascinating and wide-ranging letters in context, making the letters accessible to both scholars and general readers. Darwin depended on correspondence to collect data from all over the world, and to discuss his emerging ideas with scientific colleagues, many of whom he never met in person. The letters are published chronologically: volume 26 includes letters from 1878, the year in which Darwin with his son Francis carried out experiments on plant movement and bloom on plants. Francis spent the summer at a botanical research institute in Germany; and father and son exchanged many detailed letters about his work. Meanwhile, Darwin tried to secure government support for attempts by one of his Irish correspondents to breed a blight-resistant potato.

List of illustrations
List of letters
Introduction
Acknowledgments
List of provenances
Note on editorial policy
Darwin/Wedgwood genealogy
Abbreviations and symbols
The correspondence
Appendix I. Translations
Appendix II. Chronology
Appendix III. Diplomas
Appendix IV. Reviews of Forms of flowers
Manuscript alterations and comments
Biographical register and index to correspondents
Bibliography
Notes on manuscript sources
Index.

Subject Areas: Evolution [PSAJ], History of science [PDX]