It was on this date in 1859 that Charles Darwin entered the words “all copies ie 1250 sold first day” in his journal. He was writing, of course, about his then just published book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection – the book that would become the most famous of all his many works, would spark debates that still rage to this very day, and would end up being far more talked about than actually read.
As its this last point that troubles me the most, I try never to miss an opportunity to encourage all those interested in natural history to take up the book and read it for themselves. However I am willing to admit that there may be those who might find the reading of a century-and-a-half old scientific book written by one of the greatest minds of his century – and indeed, quite possibly of western civilization itself – somewhat daunting. Yet far more tricky than the basic science itself contained in the book can be the references to things that while in the time of its publication were common knowledge are now uncommon or largely forgotten.
Which is why I am recommending not only taking up a copy of On the Origin itself in one hand but also taking up a copy of The Origin Then and Now; An Interpretive Guide to the Origin of Species by David N. Reznick in the other. Reznick’s book serves as an excellent bridge across the years to bring the reader into awareness of many of the items Darwin mentions in his On the Origin that might be misinterpreted or outright overlooked today.
Therefore if you have not yet read Darwin’s On the Origin yet, there is no time like the present to do so, particularly with such a very helpful interpretive guide as David Reznick’s readily available. And indeed, even if you have already read Darwin’s magnum opus, why not either read it again (it more than merits repeated reading) or at the very least sit down with The Origin Then and Now to ensure that you caught all the intricacies and subtleties of Darwin’s book.
