- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (Jan 6 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0805087214
- ISBN-13: 978-0805087215
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.4 x 2.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 454 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#199,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #54 in Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > Science & Technology
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
Praise for CHARLES AND EMMA:
“The unlikely, and happy marriage of Charles Darwin and Emma Wedgewood comes to life in Heiligman’s intelligent and fast-moving book. Emma, a devout Christian but a sympathetic editor, helped make the arguments in ‘On the Origin of Species’ airtight. Meanwhile readers can almost effortlessly absorb Darwin’s ideas and the culture in which they developed, along with a portrait of Victorian everyday life.”—New York Times Book Review, 2009 Notable Book
“With empathy, humor and insight, Heiligman proves the truth of the maxim that behind every great man there is indeed a great woman. There have been many Darwin-themed books published this year (which marks the 200th anniversary of his birth). This is clearly the best.”—NPR.org
“A delightful book about the question at the heart of the Darwins’ marriage.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Heiligman's writing is so good—so rooted in particulars of time, place and Darwin's scientific thought, yet so light and full of drama—that readers will care about Charles and Emma and their love story. The debate between science and religion continues, today, but the relationship of Charles and Emma Darwin demonstrates that science and religion are not incompatible.”—Bookpage
“This is the ‘wow’ biography on the Darwins - meticulously researched, richly rendered and rewarding every step of the way.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Heiligman conveys the social order of the day, the comfort religion provided and even, yes, the evolution of Darwin's thoughts.”—The Washington Post Book World
“There's an extraordinary sense of how persistent and vigorous Darwin's scientific thought was, and of what an unusually loving and involved parent and husband he was...Great for young readers to watch scientific work as a personal project.”—The Chicago Tribune
“Allows readers not only to understand Darwin’s ideas, but to appreciate how Emma’s responses tempered them.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Heiligman has created a unique, flowing, and meticulously researched picture of the controversial scientist and the effect of his marriage on his life and work.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Here is a timely, relevant book that works on several levels: as a history of science, as a biography, and, last but not least, as a romance.” —Horn Book, starred review
“This intersection between religion and science is where the book shines, but it is also an excellent portrait of what life was like during the Victorian era, a time when illness and death were ever present, and, in a way, a real-time example of the survival of the fittest.”—Booklist, starred review
“Come for the science, stay for the love story”—BCCB, starred review
“This rich, insightful portrait of Charles and Emma Darwin's marriage explores a dimension of the naturalist's life that has heretofore been largely ignored...readers wanting to know more will discover two brilliant thinkers whose marital dialectic will provide rich fodder for discussions of science and faith.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A unique blend of romance, scientific observations, explanations of medical practices prevalent in the earlynineteenth century, and opportunities to examine scientific discoveries and religious beliefs in detail.” —VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
“The conflicts between science and religion are daunting subjects, but Deborah Heiligman’s beautiful book Charles and Emma unravels all the complexity through the lives of two remarkable people. At its heart, “Charles and Emma” is a love story—but it is amazing how much you learn by the time you finish. I enjoyed every page.”—Professor Ari L. Goldman, Columbia University, author of “The Search for God at Harvard.”
“Not only among the very best [Darwin biographies], but it provides something new, which is quite an achievement in such a crowded field.” —John Bonner, Professor Emeritus, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
“It is magnificent and will be a much loved and read book by many people.” —Rosemary Grant, Senior Research Biologist, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
“I loved the book and feel strongly that it should be marketed to readers of many ages and not restricted to students.” —Mary Lou Gleason, New York Academy of Sciences
Product Description
Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, his revolutionary tract on evolution and the fundamental ideas involved, in 1859. Nearly 150 years later, the theory of evolution continues to create tension between the scientific and religious communities. Challenges about teaching the theory of evolution in schools occur annually all over the country. This same debate raged within Darwin himself, and played an important part in his marriage: his wife, Emma, was quite religious, and her faith gave Charles a lot to think about as he worked on a theory that continues to spark intense debates.
Deborah Heiligman's new biography of Charles Darwin is a thought-provoking account of the man behind evolutionary theory: how his personal life affected his work and vice versa. The end result is an engaging exploration of history, science, and religion for young readers.
Charles and Emma is a 2009 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charles & Emma, loved & beloved,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith (Hardcover)
As a long-time Darwin scholar and University evolution prof, I spend a lot of time focussed on Darwin's scientific work: the Voyage, the slow accumulation of facts, the sketches of his theory, the breakthrough Theory of Natural Selection, and the myriad books of the Old Man of Down.Deborah Heiligman has conceived a delightfully refreshing approach. From letters and diaries, she has constructed a highly readable story of the marriage of Charles Darwin and his wife Emma, paced by the birth of their 10 children, running in parallel with the timeline of events in Charles' day job as a leading scientist of the mid 19th century. Moving back and forth between the two stories is Emma's religious expectation of an afterlife and her concern for Charles' loss of conventional Anglican faith (neither of them being biblical literalists), especially in the aftermath of the death of their favourite daughter Annie. The very human context of Charles' scientific career as part of the life of a devoted family man has never been presented with greater clarity. I found myself crying again over the death of Annie. The role of religion in the marriage of two very devoted lovers will echo with many. Those lucky enough to be in the small number of cities where it has been released will want to see "Creation," a film based on the same events in this book, starring Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews) 20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Getting the inside story,
By K. Moulton "avid reader" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith (Hardcover)
I enjoyed reading this book. It gave me more inside information on Charles and his relationship with Emma. I think it humanizes Charles in a way many people may not see. Learning about the length of time he worked with his theories,the sensitivity toward his wife and her beliefs that he had, and reconciling his scientific ideas with his own religious beliefs, helped me to understand his struggle more. I believe middle and high school students could read and enjoy this book, and of course, adults. I think it is a bit too much for elementary students.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
a love story for all ages,
By Sally Keehn - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith (Hardcover)
This book blew me away. It has such ramifications for the world today. Not only does it reveal the little known love story between Charles and Emma Darwin, but it shows how two people with such differing viewpoints (Charles was a scientist and agnostic; Emma, deeply religious) made their marriage work. The characters leap off the page. The author includes such fascinating details - Darwin's fascination with barnacles and worms; the way orchids bend toward the light. The dog who didn't like visiting the green house because he wanted his walk! And oh, the man himself, who studied the small things of life - leading him to a revolutionary theory about the big. And how he died, after a long and fruitful life, in his loving wife's arms.I loved it! 14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating Biography of Charles and Emma Darwin,
By Josh B. "Josh B." - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith (Hardcover)
Few books offer as much human insight, inspiration, humor, and encouragement to enjoy science as this one. Heiligman has a sure touch as a biographer, using the telling remark or anecdote to flesh out the characters and explain their struggles, conflicts, and resolutions. Anyone who would like a short book on one of the world's great thinkers--and the conditions of home life that allowed him to prosper intellectually--can do no better than this. The tension between religion and science as Heiligman explains the Darwins' marriage and personal faith just adds to this engrossing story. Superb!
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