Erasmus Darwin

Desmond King-Hele

This study of Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) brings from semi-obscurity a man who was anything but obscure in his own day. Famous as the finest doctor of his time, a best-selling poet, and a prolific inventor, he also propounded many scientific theories, most notably that of evolution. Concerning this, C. D. Darlington in his biography of Charles Darwin wrote: "A convincing argument appeared for the first time ... in the work of Darwin's grandfather at the end of the eighteenth century." A prophet even with honor in his own country, he was while he lived compared to Da Vinci and the contemporary Goethe. Mr. King-Hele writes vividly, reviewing Dr. Darwin's achievements and assessing his significance for our times. He also examines his personality, his chief literary works, and his influence on the great Romantic poets and the first and most famous piece of science fiction, Mary Shelley's...

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