'can we doubt ...that individuals having any advantage, however slight, over others, would have the best chance of surviving and of procreating their kind?' In the Origin of Species (1859) Darwin challenged many of the most deeply held beliefs of the Western world. His insistence on the immense length of the past and on the abundance of life-forms, present and extinct, dislodged man from his central position in creation and called into question the role of the Creator. He showed that new species are achieved by natural selection, and that absence of plan is an inherent part of the evolutionary process. Darwin's prodigious reading, experimentation, and observations on his travels fed into his great work, which draws on material from the Galapagos Islands to rural Staffordshire, from English back gardens to colonial encounters. The present edition provides a detailed and accessible discussion of his theories and adds an account of the immediate responses to the book on publication. The resistances as well as the enthusiasms of the first readers cast light on recent controversies, particularly concerning questions of design and descent. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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"This interesting publication may help to cut misinterpretation and is a useful resource for anyone who wishes to re-read Origin illuminated by the perspectives of a modern biologist."
--Biologist, 1 November 2009 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--Biologist, 1 November 2009 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Jim Endersby's major new scholarly edition debunks some of the myths that surround Darwin's book, and expores how it was originally written, published and read. Endersby provides a new, up-to-date and very readable introduction to this classic text and a level of scholarly apparatus unmatched by any other edition.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
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83 of 85 people found the following review helpful
By A. R. Jones
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a "coffee table" sized book i.e. on the large side which is a bit of a shock if you are expecting something you can carry easily. However the plus side is the fantastic colour plates and the addition of supporting material from the Beagle voyage, Darwin's autobiography and journals. A book to enjoy whilst sitting comfortably at home rather than on public transport.
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the most beautiful edition of Darwin's Origin of the Species I have come across. With lots of facsimiles of the original book, Darwin's letters and other memorabilia from the original it really adds to the book's content. Highly Recommended
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By sctrainer
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Yesterday morning I finally finished my Kindle version of this seminal work. As I read through the last and famous paragraph I was struck by three incongruent words; "by the Creator". I reread the sentence again to check that I had not misunderstood but it still looked out of place. Later in the day I began to read a paperback version of Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion". On page 32 Dawkins quotes the same paragraph but without the reference to "the Creator". It seemed highly unlikely that Richard Dawkins would have risked his academic credibility by misquoting Darwin, so I checked the quotation from other sources on the internet; none of which contained the words "by the Creator". The two sentences are shown below;
"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." Dawkins and others sources.
"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." Kindle Edition
I appreciate that Kindle versions are prepared by volunteers and, therefore, accept the occasional errors of grammar and spelling, but this cannot have been an error. How much more of the Kindle version that I purchased has been amended to give a Creationist spin to Darwin's Theory and how many readers have been unwittingly mislead?
(Addendum made 11th January 2012) My thanks to Michael D Farmer for the following comments which correct my misgivings; "They are different editions. The first edition does not contain "by the Creator" here. There is a Kindle edition of this (text only). Darwin was persuaded to include the addition in the second and subsequent editions (there were six in his lifetime). See the website darwin online or the Wikipedia entry."
My apologies for suggesting some Creationist conspiracy but I was unaware that Darwin made these changes and had I been aware would have opted for the earlier version.
"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." Dawkins and others sources.
"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." Kindle Edition
I appreciate that Kindle versions are prepared by volunteers and, therefore, accept the occasional errors of grammar and spelling, but this cannot have been an error. How much more of the Kindle version that I purchased has been amended to give a Creationist spin to Darwin's Theory and how many readers have been unwittingly mislead?
(Addendum made 11th January 2012) My thanks to Michael D Farmer for the following comments which correct my misgivings; "They are different editions. The first edition does not contain "by the Creator" here. There is a Kindle edition of this (text only). Darwin was persuaded to include the addition in the second and subsequent editions (there were six in his lifetime). See the website darwin online or the Wikipedia entry."
My apologies for suggesting some Creationist conspiracy but I was unaware that Darwin made these changes and had I been aware would have opted for the earlier version.
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Beautifully Illustrated!
Although this is 'the real thing' and therefore not designed for children, I bought this book for my grandson for his sixth birthday, and he loves it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Chris M
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THE BOOK: Brilliant read, all additions are done in good taste and fit well with the original writings, well worth the read.
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THE BOOK: Brilliant read, all additions are done in good taste and fit well with the original writings, well worth the read.
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The kindle version lacks essential diagrams.
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a great book
I got it for my science loving boyfriend who does not like reading, however he is already started to read it. Its a very nice gift.
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for the biologist
This book will definitely get you in bed with a biologist. She will love the illustrations and she will love you. The perfect gift for a loved one who eats, sleeps, lives biology.
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Lovely book
What can i say that already has not been said about this man.I suppose some may agree or disagree but all i can say is the quality of the book is amazing. Read more
Published 16 months ago by bubba
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