The autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809–1882. With the original omissions restored. Edited and with appendix and notes by his grand–daughter Nora Barlow.
London and Glasgow: Collins Clear–Type Press.
The original was first published posthumously in 1887 with several omissions.
See full text
This book has been fully scanned and digitalized by J. van Wyhe in 2004, providing also the images of the original manuscript, reproduced with permission of the Barlow family, the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin (for this version, see the aforementioned hyperlink).
The publication retraces the paths of Darwin's life and career, being divided into three sections: 1) the autobiography itself; 2) an appendix; 3) notes.
Here follows the list of the appendixes: 1) on Ch. Darwin and his grandfather Dr. E. Darwin; 2) the Darwin–Butler Controversy.
These are instead the notes: 1) unpublished letter from Dr. E. Darwin to his son Robert; 2) how Dr. R. Darwin's objections to the Voyage were overcome; 3) the pencil notes of 1837–8; 4) Mrs. Darwin's papers on religion; 5) on Ch. Darwin's ill–health; 6) references to previous omitted passages.
The importance of this autobiography has been already stressed by Darwin himself in a letter to J.D. Hooker, dated 1869 and reported on p. 8: “If I lived twenty more years and was able to work, how I should have to modify the Origin, and how much the views on all points will have to be modified! Well it is a beginning, and that is something”.
[M. De Pietri – November 2019]