Author: Darwin, Charles. [Frederick Burkhardt et al., eds.]
Title: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Vol. I-XI (1821-1863).
Description: Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985-1999 (all 1st ed.); all vols. 600-1038pp., frontispiece portrait/illustration, index, biographical register, bibliography, endnotes, notes per letter, bl-wh illustrations, 8vo, uniform dark-green cloth w. gilt spine title, dustwrapper. Near fine set w. sometimes small signature former owner. ¶ "For the first time full authoritative texts of Darwin's letters are made available, edited according to modern textual editiorial principles and practice. Letter-writing was of crucial importance to Darwin's work, not only because of his poor health isolated him from direct personal communication with his scientific collegues but also because the nature of his investigations required communication with naturalists in many fields and in all quarters of the globe. Thus the letters are a mine of information about the work in progress of a creative genius who produced an intellectual revolution. The edition includes letters Darwin received from his family and scientific correspondents, most of which have not previously been published. Besides telling us much about Darwin, these letters bring to the foreground the contribution made to his thinking by a remarkably large number and variety of 19th-century naturalists." (blurb) Originally the series had to be completed in 2009, 200 years after Darwin was born, but because of the enormous quantity of letters - not few of which popped up after the volume in which they should have been placed, had been published - the end-date of the project is open now. The series counts now (early 2009) 16 volumes and has proceeded until 18..

Keywords: Darwin brieven evolutie evolutietheorie