The Darwin Conspiracy - Book Review

The Darwin Conspiracy
By John Darnton
Anchor Books 2006

This is a novel involving two conspiracies. One regarding Darwin's voyage on the Beagle and his theory of evolution. Was it really his idea? The other about a member of Darwin's own family. This novel is written in 3 different timelines. One is the Voyage of the Beagle, the second is a Journal written by one of Darwin's daughters and the third is the search for these journals in the present day.


The novel starts off with Hugh and Beth both looking for a new research angle on Darwin - something different that nobody else has published before. While Hugh is perusing the Darwin papers at the Manuscripts Room at the Cambridge University Library, he comes across a small accounts book with what looks like a journal written on the back pages.

Hugh "borrows" the journal and eventually discovers that it was written by Elizabeth Darwin, one of Charles's daughters. A daughter about whom very little is known, other than she never married and had no children.

Beth was raised with a family tradition that said she was descended from Charles Darwin. She wants to know exactly how she was descended from them.

The historical narratives in this novel consist of excerpts of Lizzie's journal and the Beagle voyage. Mixed in with these narratives are two very interesting and shocking secrets.

The real characters from the Beagle crew are used in the novel, except one. The surgeon in this novel is named Robert McCormick. According to Charles Darwin's book "Voyage of the Beagle" the real surgeon on board the Beagle was named Mr. Bynoe.

I enjoyed this book very much. There is a lot of infomation on the Darwin family and on the Beagle voyage.

Darwin's dangerous idea

Darwin's dangerous idea

A major evolution exhibit opens in Toronto next week, which begs the question: Why so much fuss over a 150-year-old theory that seems to gather more scientific support by the decade?

The Evolution Revolution
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
March 8 to August 4, 2008

On the Origin of Species - 50 Greatest Books

Today's Top 50 Book by the Globe and Mail.

On the Origin of Species, By Charles Darwin, published in 1859.

Despite my eclectic range of interests, I actually have never read this book - at least not the whole thing. Although I certainly have made the attempt a few times.

But I do know a bit about Darwin. I do know that Darwin's much loved daughter died at age 12, I think, and Darwin's wife, Emma Darwin, wrote some diaries, and I even linked to them back when I first started blogging.

Whether or not people believe in evolution, this book certainly has created a divide. Between Science and Atheists who say that yes it happened, just as Darwin described. The scientists just have not yet found the "missing link". And the Christians who accept Creation, or the new phrase - Intelligent Design - where God created the Universe and everything in it. You only need to look to the complexity of the human body to know that it didnt come together by accident. God also created nature and the beautiful planet we live on - when it's not being destroyed by bombs.

I won't say anymore, I am just presenting the after effects that Darwin let loose when he wrote his book. I'm sure he would be horrified to know the chaos his book has unleashed.