Making a Monkey out of Darwin

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When Darwin finally published the On the Origin of Species, he tried to avoid controversy by ignoring human origins. Yet evolution was soon being attacked as the godless ‘monkey theory’. However, while some condemned Darwin’s book, others found a form of consolation in it, an alternative to an orthodox Christian faith some found hard to maintain. 

As Darwin tried to make sense of the death of his favourite daughter, Annie, many of his readers found unexpected consolation for their own losses in Darwin’s words.

 

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Jim Endersby, Gresham Visiting Professor of the History of Science. 

Professor Jim Endersby

Visiting Professor of the History of Science

Jim Endersby is Professor of the History of Science at the University of Sussex.

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