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Title details for Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman - Wait list

Charles and Emma

The Darwins' Leap of Faith

by Deborah Heiligman
Rosalyn Landor
Audiobook
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Michael L. Printz Honor
YALSA Excellence in Non-Fiction
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
A thought-provoking biography of the man behind evolutionary theory.
Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, his revolutionary tract on evolution and the fundamental ideas involved, in 1859. One hundred and fifty years later, the theory of evolution continues to cause tension between scientific and religious communities. But did you know this debate raged within Darwin himself? Learn about the man behind the theory in an exploration of history, science, and religion.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    January 6, 2009

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780739380505
      • File size: 220021 KB
      • Duration: 07:38:22

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • ATOS Level: 7.6
    • Lexile® Measure: 1020
    • Interest Level: 4-8(MG)
    • Text Difficulty: 6-8

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Deborah Heiligman focuses on the marriage of Charles and Emma Darwin, showing us a man wrestling to reconcile the concept of faith in the literal Word of God with his scientific observations of ongoing changes in the natural world. His marriage to the religious Emma Wedgwood developed into a template for the coexistence of religion and science. Rosalyn Landor narrates the account with a straightforward delivery. However, the various people she quotes often come across as rather pompous. Her delivery of lines from Jane Austen--intended, presumably, to place the Darwins in the same society as Austen--seems as pretentious as her world. Marketed as a young adult book, this title may miss its audience. More's the pity, as Heiligman has done an admirable job of humanizing the eminent Darwin. N.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from December 15, 2008
      This rewarding biography of Charles Darwin investigates his marriage to his cousin Emma Wedgwood. Heiligman (the Holidays Around the World series) has good reason for this unusual approach: as deeply as they loved each other, Emma believed in God, and Charles believed in reason. Embracing the paradoxes in her subjects' personalities, the author unfolds a sympathetic and illuminating account, bolstered by quotations from their personal writings as well as significant research into the historical context. We meet Charles as he weighs the pros and cons of wedded life—but then seeks his father's advice (Darwin père urges him to conceal his religious doubts); Emma becomes a more fervent believer after the death of her favorite (and more religious) sister. Heiligman writes for motivated readers, and her style can be discursive (mention of a letter can introduce a few sentences on the British postal system). Her book allows readers not only to understand Darwin's ideas, but to appreciate how Emma's responses tempered them. Eight pages of photos, not seen by PW.
      Ages 12–up.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:7.6
  • Lexile® Measure:1020
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:6-8

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