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Secondary sourceBook1887

The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin

Francis Darwin · 1887

The first major biography of Charles Darwin, published in 1887, combining his autobiography with selected letters edited by his son Francis.

Edited by Darwin's son, this book first published his autobiography and letters, shaping his public image after death.

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Title page of 'The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, including an Autobiographical Chapter', edited by his son Francis Darwin, In Three Volumes, Vol. I, London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1887. Cream paper with dark serif text.
Francis Darwin (ed.), The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, London: John Murray, 1887.

About this source

What it is

This book, published in 1887 by John Murray, was edited by Francis Darwin, Charles Darwin's son. It brings together an autobiographical chapter written by Darwin for his family, a selection of his letters, and an essay by Thomas Huxley on how the Origin of Species was received.

Why it matters

This was the first real biography of Charles Darwin, apart from obituaries, and it shaped how the public came to see him after his death. Francis Darwin edited the autobiography to remove his father's comments on religion, meaning readers at the time did not see the full original text; the complete version was only published much later by Darwin's granddaughter. The book shows how families and editors can shape a historical figure's public image.

Look closer

  • Why might a son editing his father's private writings choose to leave parts out?
  • How might this book have shaped what people believed about Darwin's views on religion?
  • What is the difference between reading someone's private writing and reading an edited version of it?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Charles Darwin on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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