Adrian Desmond and James Moore's "Darwin" (1991) won the James Tait Black Prize, the Comisso Prize for biography in Italy, the Watson Davis Prize of the History of Science Society, and the Dingle Prize of the British Society for the History of Science. It was short-listed for the Rhone-Poulenc Prize and has been widely translated.
Praise for "Darwin's Sacred Cause""Arresting . . . confront[s] the
touchy subject of Darwin and race head on . . . Adrian Desmond and
James Moore published a highly regarded biography of Darwin in 1991
. . . the case they make is rich and intricate, involving Darwin's
encounter with race-based phrenology at Edinburgh and a religiously
based opposition to slavery at Cambridge. Even Darwin's courtship
of Emma, whom he winningly called 'the most interesting specimen in
the whole series of vertebrate animals, ' is cleverly interwoven
with his developing thoughts on 'sexual selection' . . ." "- New
York Times Book Review ""'Darwin's Sacred Cause' shows that there
is still new material to be gleaned from the life of a man much
picked over, and who turned the world upside down."" -
Economist""This book dispels the legend, long attached to
retrospective accounts of Darwin's research, that the great
scientist's interest in evolution was spurred by Galapagos finches.
It was people all along . . . [Desmond and Moore] shed welcome
light on lesser-known features of Darwin's work, while also
providing an exceptionally crisp account of mid-nineteenth-century
debates over the origins of racial differences." "-" Edward J.
Larson," Bookforum""An illuminating new book."" - Smithsonian""In
this controversial reinterpretation of Charles Darwin's life and
work, the authors of a highly regarded 1991 biography argue that
the driving force behind Darwin's theory of evolution was his
fierce abolitionism, which had deep family roots and was reinforced
by his voyage on the Beagle and by events in America." "-
Scientific American""'Darwin's Sacred Cause' is a compelling
narrative, well researched and convincingly presented, offering a
new understanding of who Darwin was and the passions that motivated
his thought. Particularly eye opening is the surprising connection
between Darwin's theory and the Christian abolition movement as
they together fought a scientific community that rejected the
Christian belief that all mankind was descended from a single pair.
The story of that unlikely alliance is fascinating to follow, full
of colorful characters both noble and vile, revealing how science
and religion were debased by the evil of racism."" - BookPage""Who
better than Desmond and Moore, Darwin's acclaimed biographers, to
bring a fresh perspective to Darwin's central beliefs? . . . This
masterful book produces a perspective on Darwin as not only
scientist but moralist . . . Desmond and Moore build a new context
in which to view Darwin that is utterly convincing and certain to
influence scholars for generations to come. In time for Darwin's
bicentennial, this is the rare book that mines old ground and finds
new treasure." "-- Publishers Weekly, starred, boxed
review""Rush[es] forward with the urgency of the abolitionist
spirit. Magnificent." -- Booklist, starred review""[A] stimulating,
in-depth picture of 19th-century scientific thinking and racial
attitudes."" -- Kirkus Reviews""Well researched, likely to be
controversial . . . this book provides [an] enlightening glimpse
into a life of seemingly infinite complexity."" -- Library
Journal""Desmond and Moore's fascinating new look at Darwin forces
us to revise and expand the way we look at this revolutionary
figure, and to see him wrestling with moral as well as scientific
questions. And it is a reminder of just how much the issue of
slavery loomed over everything in the nineteenth century, including
even fields that were apparently far distant." --Adam Hochschild,
author of "King Leopold's Ghost "and "Bury the Chains""This
exciting book is sure to create a stir. Already widely admired for
their pathbreaking biography of Charles Darwin, Desmond and Moore
here give an entirely new interpretation of Darwin's views on
humankind, bringing together scholarship and sparkling narrative
pace to explore theories of ape ancestry and racial origins in the
Victorian period. Darwin's part in making the modern world will
never be the same again!" --Janet Browne, Aramont Professor of the
History of Science, Harvard University, and author of "Charles
Darwin: Voyaging"
Praise for "Darwin’s Sacred Cause""Arresting . . . confront[s] the
touchy subject of Darwin and race head on . . . Adrian Desmond and
James Moore published a highly regarded biography of Darwin in 1991
. . . the case they make is rich and intricate, involving Darwin's
encounter with race-based phrenology at Edinburgh and a religiously
based opposition to slavery at Cambridge. Even Darwin's courtship
of Emma, whom he winningly called 'the most interesting specimen in
the whole series of vertebrate animals, ' is cleverly interwoven
with his developing thoughts on 'sexual selection' . . ." "- New
York Times Book Review ""'Darwin’s Sacred Cause' shows that there
is still new material to be gleaned from the life of a man much
picked over, and who turned the world upside down."" -
Economist""This book dispels the legend, long attached to
retrospective accounts of Darwin’s research, that the great
scientist’s interest in evolution was spurred by Galapagos f
Praise for "Darwin's Sacred Cause""Arresting . . . confront[s] the
touchy subject of Darwin and race head on . . . Adrian Desmond and
James Moore published a highly regarded biography of Darwin in 1991
. . . the case they make is rich and intricate, involving Darwin's
encounter with race-based phrenology at Edinburgh and a religiously
based opposition to slavery at Cambridge. Even Darwin's courtship
of Emma, whom he winningly called 'the most interesting specimen in
the whole series of vertebrate animals, ' is cleverly interwoven
with his developing thoughts on 'sexual selection' . . ." "- New
York Times Book Review ""'Darwin's Sacred Cause' shows that there
is still new material to be gleaned from the life of a man much
picked over, and who turned the world upside down."" -
Economist""This book dispels the legend, long attached to
retrospective accounts of Darwin's research, that the great
scientist's interest in evolution was spurred by Galapagos finches.
It was people all along . . . [Desmond and Moore] shed welcome
light on lesser-known features of Darwin's work, while also
providing an exceptionally crisp account of mid-nineteenth-century
debates over the origins of racial differences." "-" Edward J.
Larson," Bookforum""An illuminating new book."" - Smithsonian""In
this controversial reinterpretation of Charles Darwin's life and
work, the authors of a highly regarded 1991 biography argue that
the driving force behind Darwin's theory of evolution was his
fierce abolitionism, which had deep family roots and was reinforced
by his voyage on the Beagle and by events in America." "-
Scientific American""'Darwin's Sacred Cause' is a compelling
narrative, wellresearched and convincingly presented, offering a
new understanding of who Darwin was and the passions that motivated
his thought. Particularly eye opening is the surprising connection
between Darwin's theory and the Christian abolition movement as
they together fought a scientific community that rejected the
Christian belief that all mankind was descended from a single pair.
The story of that unlikely alliance is fascinating to follow, full
of colorful characters both noble and vile, revealing how science
and religion were debased by the evil of racism."" - BookPage""Who
better than Desmond and Moore, Darwin's acclaimed biographers, to
bring a fresh perspective to Darwin's central beliefs? . . . This
masterful book produces a perspective on Darwin as not only
scientist but moralist . . . Desmond and Moore build a new context
in which to view Darwin that is utterly convincing and certain to
influence scholars for generations to come. In time for Darwin's
bicentennial, this is the rare book that mines old ground and finds
new treasure." "-- Publishers Weekly, starred, boxed
review""Rush[es] forward with the urgency of the abolitionist
spirit. Magnificent." -- Booklist, starred review""[A] stimulating,
in-depth picture of 19th-century scientific thinking and racial
attitudes."" -- Kirkus Reviews""Well researched, likely to be
controversial . . . this book provides [an] enlightening glimpse
into a life of seemingly infinite complexity."" -- Library
Journal""Desmond and Moore's fascinating new look at Darwin forces
us to revise and expand the way we look at this revolutionary
figure, and to see him wrestling with moral as well as scientific
questions. And it is a reminder ofjust how much the issue of
slavery loomed over everything in the nineteenth century, including
even fields that were apparently far distant." --Adam Hochschild,
author of "King Leopold's Ghost "and "Bury the Chains""This
exciting book is sure to create a stir. Already widely admired for
their pathbreaking biography of Charles Darwin, Desmond and Moore
here give an entirely new interpretation of Darwin's views on
humankind, bringing together scholarship and sparkling narrative
pace to explore theories of ape ancestry and racial origins in the
Victorian period. Darwin's part in making the modern world will
never be the same again!" --Janet Browne, Aramont Professor of the
History of Science, Harvard University, and author of "Charles
Darwin: Voyaging"
Praise for "Darwin's Sacred Cause""Desmond and Moore's fascinating
new look at Darwin forces us to revise and expand the way we look
at this revolutionary figure, and to see him wrestling with moral
as well as scientific questions. And it is a reminder of just how
much the issue of slavery loomed over everything in the nineteenth
century, including even fields that were apparently far distant."
--Adam Hochschild, author of "King Leopold's Ghost "and "Bury the
Chains""This exciting book is sure to create a stir. Already widely
admired for their pathbreaking biography of Charles Darwin, Desmond
and Moore here give an entirely new interpretation of Darwin's
views on humankind, bringing together scholarship and sparkling
narrative pace to explore theories of ape ancestry and racial
origins in the Victorian period. Darwin's part in making the modern
world will never be the same again!" --Janet Browne, Aramont
Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University, and author
of "Charles Darwin: Voyaging"
Ask a Question About this Product More... |