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Evolutionary science has become a contentious topic in recent years – it's been vilified as a contributing factor to immortality, and conversely, it’s been hailed as the most important biological discovery of our time. This scientific theory has become a demarcating political bastion -- a line in the sand that divides liberal and conservative, religious believer and non-believer, young and old, educated and uneducated. When theories of evolution first became well known among “scientists” and laymen in the late 18th-century, they were met with a similar blend of condemnation and fascination. Most notably, Christianity and evolution were seen by most as simply irreconcilable – if God had made each species and created man in his own image, how could evolution be correct?
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 will 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.
This is a great work for those who are looking for a primer on the history of evolutionary thought both before and after Charles Darwin. Bowler's work offers a wealth of references for those who wish to further pursue the topic.
5. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0201959879/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0201959879&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=0ce30c7f739854c170e47a1ee748154c Huxley: From Devil’s Disciple to Evolutions High Priest]'' by Adrian Desmond. (Helix Books, 1999.)
Thomas Henry Huxley was known as “Darwin’s bulldog”. Huxley is perhaps most well known for coining the term “agnostic” in 1869. While Darwin adhered to a more genteel version of his theory of evolution, Huxley debated anyone he could as to the theory's truths.
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 his findings being extremely controversial at the time, especially for a gentleman of Darwin's social standing.
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8. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591020034/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1591020034&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=96a99fae47c995a151556396805df554 Evolutionary Theory & Victorian Culture]'' by Martin Fichman (Humanity Books, 2002)
This book is an excellent primer for those looking to learn more about how evolutionary theory was perceived among different facets of Victorian society.
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/gp/product/0226481123/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0226481123&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4058cc1aa5dc0f799a1ee713f1743c7bVictorian Science in Context]'' by Bernard Lightman (The University of Chicago Press, 1997)
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 contains a collection of essays which masterfully illustrate the climate in which evolutionary theory was received.
