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The answer to this question is far from simple, and as we can see, it is still very relevant, even almost 200 years later. What follows is a list of books that should help us better understand the place of evolutionary theory during its infancy, and thereby give us a better understanding of why it remains so controversial in modern times.
1. [https://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Sensation-Extraordinary-Publication-Authorship/dp/0226744116/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132572&sr=1-1&keywords=victorian+sensation Victorian Sensation: The Extraordinary Publication, Reception, and Secret Authorship of Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation by James A. Secord]. <ref>Secord, James A. Victorian Sensation: the Extraordinary Publication, Reception, and Secret Authorship of Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation. University of Chicago Press, 2003.</ref> This groundbreaking work deals with the publication of a work entitled The Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation, published anonymously in 1844 by a geologist named Robert Chambers. Many don’t know this, but Chambers’ treatise was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the reception of Darwin’s theory of evolution in 1859.
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2. [https://www.amazon.com/Charles-Darwin-Biography-Vol-Voyaging/dp/0691026068/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132599&sr=1-1&keywords=browne+darwin Charles Darwin: A Biography, Vol. 1 – Voyaging & Vol. 2 – The Power of Place by Janet Browne]. <ref>Browne, E. Janet. Charles Darwin: Voyaging: a Biography. Princeton University Press, 2005.</ref> Most historians of science see Browne’s two-part biography of Charles Darwin as the most thorough and engaging work on Darwin’s life and the creation of his theory of evolution by natural selection. Browne draws on countless sources, including personal letters and journals to give her reader a crystal-clear picture of Darwin’s frame of mind before publishing On the Origin of Species in 1859.
3. [https://www.amazon.com/Politics-Evolution-Morphology-Conceptual-Foundations/dp/0226143740/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132631&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Politics+of+Evolution+by+Adrian+Desmond The Politics of Evolution by Adrian Desmond]. <ref>Desmond, Adrian. The Politics of Evolution: Morphology, Medicine and Reform in Radical London. University of Chicago Press, 2011.</ref> This work, as its name suggests, deals with how ideas about evolution were taken up by reform-minded and politically frustrated artisans to further reformist agendas.
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4. [https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-History-Peter-J-Bowler/dp/0520261283/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132655&sr=1-1&keywords=Evolution%3A+The+History+of+an+Idea+by+Peter+J.+Bowler Evolution: The History of an Idea by Peter J. Bowler]. <ref>Bowler, Peter J. Evolution: the History of an Idea. University of California Press, 2009.</ref> This is a great work for those who are looking for a primer on this history of evolutionary thought both before and after Charles Darwin. It offers a wealth of references for those who wish to further pursue the topic.
5. [https://www.amazon.com/Huxley-Devils-Disciple-Evolutions-Priest/dp/0201959879/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132677&sr=1-1&keywords=Huxley%3A+From+Devil%E2%80%99s+Disciple+to+Evolutions+High+Priest+by+Adrian+Desmond Huxley: From Devil’s Disciple to Evolutions High Priest by Adrian Desmond]. <ref>Desmond, Adrian. Huxley: from Devil's Disciple to Evolution's High Priest. Helix Books, 1999.</ref> Thomas Henry Huxley was known as “Darwin’s bulldog”. Huxley is perhaps most well known for coining the term “agnostic” in 1869. While Darwin’s adhered to a more genteel version of his theory of evolution, Huxley debated anyone he could on its truths.
6. [https://www.amazon.com/Darwins-Ghosts-Secret-History-Evolution/dp/0812981707/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132697&sr=1-1&keywords=darwin%27s+ghosts Darwin’s Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution by Rebecca Stott]. <ref>Stott, Rebecca. Darwin's Ghosts: the Secret History of Evolution. Spiegel & Grau, 2013.</ref> This far-reaching work seeks to explore evolutionary ideas that preceded Darwin by centuries. Stott gives credence to the bravery of evolutionary theorists, from Aristotle to Darwin, for their willingness to defy societal norms.
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7. [https://www.amazon.com/Darwins-Sacred-Cause-Slavery-Evolution/dp/0547055269/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132731&sr=1-1&keywords=Darwin%E2%80%99s+Sacred+Cause%3A+How+a+Hatred+of+Slavery Darwin’s Sacred Cause: How a Hatred of Slavery Shaped Darwin’s Views on Human Evolution by Adrian Desmond and James Moore]. <ref>Desmond, Adrian J., and James R. Moore. Darwin's Sacred Cause: How a Hatred of Slavery Shaped Darwin's View on Human Evolution. University of Chicago Press, 2011.</ref> This relatively new work examines Darwin’s views on evolution as a product of his passionate hatred of slavery. The authors posit that Darwin’s abolitionist passion ultimately compelled him to publish his theory on evolution, despite its notions being extremely controversial at the time.
8. [https://www.amazon.com/Evolutionary-Theory-Victorian-Culture-Control/dp/1591020034/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132756&sr=1-1&keywords=Evolutionary+Theory+%26+Victorian+Culture+by+Martin+Fichman Evolutionary Theory & Victorian Culture by Martin Fichman]. <ref>Fichman, Martin. Evolutionary Theory and Victorian Culture. Humanity Books, 2002.</ref> This book is an excellent primer for those looking to learn more about how evolutionary theory was perceived among different facets of Victorian society.
9. [https://www.amazon.com/Darwin-Tormented-Evolutionist-Adrian-Desmond/dp/0393311503/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132786&sr=1-1&keywords=Darwin%3A+The+Life+of+a+Tormented+Evolutionist+by+Adrian+Desmond+and+James+Moore Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist by Adrian Desmond and James Moore]. <ref>Desmond, Adrian, and James Moore. Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist. W.W. Norton & Company, 1994.</ref> Before Janet Browne’s two-part biography of Darwin was published, this was the go-to book for those seeking to learn more about Charles Darwin and the world in which he lived.
10. [https://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Science-Context-Bernard-Lightman/dp/0226481123/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508132148&sr=1-1&keywords=Victorian+Science+in+Context+by+Bernard+Lightman Victorian Science in Context by Bernard Lightman]. <ref>Lightman, Bernard. Victorian Science in Context. The University of Chicago Press, 1997.</ref> While this book is not solely about evolutionary theory, it is, arguably, one of the best works on Victorian science and society ever published. It masterfully illustrates the climate in which evolutionary theory was received.
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