Darwin's Luck: Chance and Fortune in the Life and Work of Charles Darwin

(Hardback)

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Description

One might make a case for saying that Darwin's life was dogged by bad luck. His mother died when he was seven; he was sent to a school at which he 'learnt little'; he left medical school after two years, unqualified. Two of his children died in infancy. On the other hand one could argue that he had a privileged and fortunate life - perhaps the more common view. Patrick H. Armstrong contends that although Darwin came to the right conclusions, he did not actually follow the right path in getting there. While his science was sometimes flawed, he had the distinct knack of good instinct. Armstrong presents a fresh view of Darwin's life and methods.

Reviews

Mention in Nature, 20 November 2008
"Patrick Armstrong has approached the great man's work from a novel perspective ... [he] gives a good summary of Darwin's achievements for the general reader" - Times Higher Education
"Patrick Armstrong has written a charming biography, dealing with Darwin's voyage on the Beagle, his time at Down House near Bromley, his life with his family, the trauma of the death of some of his children, and, of course, his science." Church Times. 15 May 2009.
"The book has a quite wonderful cover and numerous illustrations -- many of them photographs taken by the geographer author." - Church Times. 15 May 2009.

Author Bio

Patrick H. Armstrong is Adjunct Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. Patrick H. Armstrong taught Geography and Ecology at the University of Western Australia. He has written extensively on the life and work of Charles Darwin. Brought up in the university city of Cambridge, among Armstrong's earliest recollections was seeing Darwin's granddaughter painting pictures of the River Cam.