February 2012 – The Friends of Charles Darwin

Book review: ‘Wild Hares and Hummingbirds’ by Stephen Moss

The Natural History of an English village.

Read article →

Book review: ‘Leviathan or, the Whale’ by Philip Hoare

A wonderful history of man's relationship with the whale.

Read article →

A miserable birthday aboard HMS Beagle

On Charles Darwin's miserable 23rd birthday (his first aboard HMS Beagle).

Read article →

The Dickens Connection

Dickens, FitzRoy and how a tragic loss at sea spurred efforts to forecast storms.

Read article →

28-Sep-1838: Darwin brainstorms Malthus
On 28 September 1838, Charles Darwin made some notes inspired by the writings of Rev. Thomas Malthus, and a famous simile was born.
Gilbert White’s influence on Charles Darwin
To mark the 300th anniversary of his birth, a brief account of Rev. Gilbert White’s influence on Charles Darwin.
26-Apr-1882: Charles Darwin buried in Westminster Abbey
On 26th April 1882, Charles Darwin was buried in Westminster Abbey. How this honour came about is described by his son Francis Darwin in The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin…
03-Dec-1831: Darwin’s first night aboard HMS Beagle
Darwin records his experimentations with a hammock.