RECORD: Anon. 1890. [Review of Journal of researches]. Inter-Ocean (12 April): 10.

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2022. RN1


[page] 10

JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES INTO NATURAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY, by the late Charles Darwin, can be frankly commended as one of the best of recent reprints. Messrs. Appleton. This popular work, that has almost become a classic, is rehabilitated in handsome style and given a new and potent interest through the medium of plentiful illustration. It may be remarked that this work was first published a quarter of a century ago recording the observations the author made in a lengthy voyage to the various countries of the world on H.M.S. Beagle, in which he was accorded special facilities for the pursuit of his scientific work. It is in the form of a journal, a history of that remarkable voyage, and a sketch of those observations in history and geology that at once makes the narrative one of the most interesting and valuable in the history of scientific navigation. The extraordinary minuteness and accuracy of Mr. Darwin's observations combined with the charm and simplicity of his descriptions, have insured the popularity of this book with all classes of readers—and that popularity has even increased in recent years. No attempt, however, has hitherto been made to produce an illustrated edition of this valuable work. Numberless places and objects are mentioned and described, but the difficulty of obtaining authentic and original representations of them drawn for the purpose has never been overcome until now. Most of the views given in this work are from sketches made on the spot by Mr. Pritchett (well-known by his connection with the voyages of Sunbeam and Wanderer), with Mr. Darwin's book by his side. Some few of the others are taken from engravings which Mr. Darwin had himself selected for their interest as illustrating his voyage, at which have been kindly lent by his son. The book forms a convenient, tasteful, and valuable compendium of scientific fact recorded in simple and interesting style.

 


Return to homepage

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 10 November, 2022