Leafing Through the Pages, the Sterling Morton Library’s book discussion group, met yesterday to discuss the life and adventures of Charles Darwin as told in his book, Voyage of the Beagle. As we sat in the Library’s Reading Room discussing this five year journey, appropriately a portrait from our Art Collection of Darwin by John Collier (printed in 1883) watched over us. The gathering and discussion brought a diversity of insight, opinions and viewpoints – just what makes an interesting morning for the group!In preparation for this gathering, I sifted through the Library’s collections related to the works by and about Charles Darwin. The Sterling Morton Library has a number of titles about Darwin including his published collected correspondence and papers. In addition, we have a number of books that he authored along with a significant collection of research about his studies and writings.
Want to read an account of exploration, drama and discovery? Pick up a copy of the Voyage of the Beagle (first published in 1839 as Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H. M. S. Beagle) and embark on an adventure!
1 comment:
Excellent - your library group is probably now better informed about what inspired Darwin than most university zoology classes. If your write-up makes your library copy fly off the shelves, you can get the text online, and for a book that puts the voyage in context, try Fossils, Finches and Fuegians, written by Richard Keynes (Darwin's great grandson). It was published by Harper Collins and while out of print you can pick up second hand copies - it's one of the best books about abour the Voyage and its effect on Darwin I've read, and I've read a few.
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