Life and Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1

"Life and Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1" by Charles Darwin, edited by his son Francis Darwin, is a late 19th-century historical work composed of personal letters and autobiographical notes from a major figure in natural science. It explores Darwin's personality, his family's past, and the beginnings of his revolutionary ideas. The book starts by laying out the Darwin family's history and the achievements of his relatives. Readers will get a look into Darwin's early life, his bond with his father, and the early indications of his love for natural history. It tells the story of Darwin's school years, his interest in collecting things, and the things that influenced his education before his important trip on the Beagle. The introductions show how the letters are carefully put together to show both Darwin's personal and his career life, capturing a man motivated by a quest for knowledge and a sincere desire to understand the natural world.