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Writing tagged: ‘reminiscences’

Thomas Wedgwood: the Uncle of Photography

Thomas Wedgwood (1771–1805)
Thomas Wedgwood (1771–1805)

As historians of science are forever reminding us (although nobody listens to those killjoys), we enter dangerous territory when we start to discuss the ‘first’ person to do X, the ‘lone genius’ who invented Y, or the ‘Father of’ Great Idea Z.

Published 12-Feb-2015
Filed under: Articles, Mini Biographies Tags: charles darwin, francis darwin, photography, reminiscences, william darwin

Charles Darwin: book-vandal

On Charles Darwin's horrific mistreatment of books.

Published 12-Feb-2014
Filed under: Blog Tags: books, charles darwin, francis darwin, reminiscences

Darwin struggles with German

Sir Francis Darwin's reminiscences about his father include an amusing passage describing Charles Darwin's approach to reading German.

Published 10-Feb-2014
Filed under: Blog Tags: book, charles darwin, francis darwin, reminiscences

NEWSLETTER

  • Newsletter No. 13: ‘Some excellent news’
    Some great news • How the internet is supposed to work • Darwin plays backgammon • Links and book reviews • a necessary owl
  • Newsletter No. 12: ‘A comparatively free man’
    A poorly Darwin writes to his cousin • links and book recommendations • the evolution of the eye

RECENT POSTS

  • Hello, French Polynesia!
    I am delighted to announce that the Friends of Charles Darwin have their first member from French Polynesia
  • The Darwin bicentennial oak, 12 years on
    Twelve years ago today, I planted the Darwin Bicentennial Oak in my garden.

BUY MY BOOK

‘On the Moor’ by Richard Carter

On the Moor: Science, History and Nature on a Country Walk
“…wonderfully droll, witty and entertaining… At their best Carter’s moorland walks and his meandering intellectual talk are part of a single, deeply coherent enterprise: a restless inquiry into the meaning of place and the nature of self.”
—Mark Cocker, author and naturalist
Amazon: UK | .com | etc.

RECENT ARTICLES

  • 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.

RECENT REVIEWS

  • Book review: ‘Islands of Abandonment’ by Cal Flyn
    Life in the post-human landscape.
  • Book review: ‘Ancestors’ by Prof. Alice Roberts
    The prehistory of Britain in seven burials.
  • Book review: ‘The Diversity of Life’ by Edward O. Wilson
    On our most valuable but least appreciated resource.
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The Friends of Charles Darwin

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