Darwin And His Children

While much has been written about the life and work of Charles Darwin, the lives of his wife and ten children remain largely unexamined. How did Darwin reconcile his own metaphysical views with those of his wife Emma Wedgwood, his first cousin and a devout Unitarian? Did his consanguineous marriage contribute to three of his children's young deaths, and how did these deaths affect both Darwin and his wife? And how did Darwin's death affect his surviving family? Most accounts of Charles Darwin's life end with his death, but Tim Berra's Darwin and His Children: His Other Legacy moves past this moment in time, examining the distinct lives of Charles Darwin's wife and children, both in relation to him and as their own characters living, and dying, separately in the wake of their father's success. The book will feature a synopsis of the development of Darwin's beliefs, work, and marriage, and then discuss the role these played in each of his children's lives, in a separate chapter for each child. Three died soon after their births, while others grew up to be bankers, writers, scientists, or members of parliament. Darwin and His Children: His Other Legacy covers each child in turn, providing a new and more personal perspective on the life and legacy of Charles Darwin.