Synopsis
An intimate and highly original interpretation of the life and work of Charles Darwin, by his great great grand-daughter, acclaimed poet, Ruth Padel.
Charles Darwin lost his mother at the age of eight, repressed all memory of her, and poured his passion into solitary walks, collecting newts and shooting. His five year voyage on the Beagle, in his twenties, changed his life. Afterwards, in London in 1838, he began publishing his findings and working privately on groundbreaking theories about the development of animal species, including human beings. He had a very happy marriage with his cousin Emma, and his emotions were no longer frozen, but both were painfully aware of the gulf between her devout Christian faith and his increasing religious doubt. The death of three of their ten children accentuated this gulf. For him, death and extinction were part of the survival of the fittest, for her, it was a prelude to an afterlife.
In this new sequence of poems, using multiple viewpoints, Ruth Padel follows not only the development of the great scientist’s professional thought, and the drama of the discovery of evolution, but also imagines the fluctuating emotions within Darwin, the private man and tender father. It is a moving and powerful tribute to her famous forbear.
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About the Author
Ruth Padel is a prize-winning poet with seven poetry collections to her name, including Voodoo Shop and The Soho Leopard, both shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize.
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Darwin A Life in Poems
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Vintage Publishing, United Kingdom, London, 2009
ISBN 10: 0701183853
ISBN 13: 9780701183851
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Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Charles Darwin lost his mother at the age of eight, repressed all memory of her, and poured his passion into newt collecting and shooting. As a young man, his five year voyage on H.M.S. Beagle changed his life. Afterwards, working privately on groundbreaking theories about the development of species, he published his geological findings. He also made a nervous proposal to his cousin Emma. They had a very happy marriage but both were painfully aware of the gulf between her devout Christian faith and his increasing religious doubt. The death of three of their ten children accentuated this gulf. For Darwin, death and extinction were nature's way of developing new species: the survival of the fittest. For Emma, death was a prelude to the afterlife. In these extraordinary poems, using multiple viewpoints - even, at one point, the orangutang at London Zoo - Ruth Padel follows the development of Darwin's thought, the drama of the discovery of evolution, and fluctuating emotions in Darwin the husband, the naturalist and the tender father, in a powerful tribute to her famous forbear. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001669913
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Darwin: A Life in Poems
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Chatto & Windus 12/02/2009, 2009
ISBN 10: 0701183853
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Darwin : A Life in Poems
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Darwin: A Life in Poems
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Chatto & Windus 12/02/2009, 2009
ISBN 10: 0701183853
ISBN 13: 9780701183851
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Darwin - A Life in Poems
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Hardback. Condition: Used. Darwin ? A Life in Poems by Ruth Padel is a profoundly original and intimate portrait of Charles Darwin, told through the power of verse. Blending poetic imagination with biographical precision, Padel?Darwin?s great-great-granddaughter?traces his life from a curious boy collecting beetles to the revolutionary thinker who changed the way we understand our place in the world. With tenderness and insight, Padel explores Darwin?s inner struggles, scientific breakthroughs, love for his wife Emma, and the deep sorrow of personal loss. Each poem, rich with historical detail and emotional resonance, brings us closer to the man behind the theory of evolution. Lyrical, illuminating, and deeply human, Darwin ? A Life in Poems is a unique journey into the heart and mind of one of history?s greatest thinkers. Seller Inventory # 2745
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Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. Clean from markings. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,350grams, ISBN:9780701183851. Seller Inventory # 9705152
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