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Nature. Science. Travel. Nonfiction. HTML: Voyage of the Beagle chronicles Charles Darwin's five years as a naturalist on board the H.M.S. Beagle. The notes and observations that he recorded in his diary included Chile, Argentina and Galapagos Islands and encompasses the ecology, geology and anthropology of the places he visits. A fascinating travel memoir the ideas that were later to evolve into Darwin's theory of natural selection find their naissance in Voyage of the Beagle..
User reviews
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: When people mention Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle, the only place most people think of (if they think of anything at all) is the Galápagos Islands. However, the Beagle circumnavigated the world in its five year voyage, and the young Charles Darwin saw it all. The Voyage of the Beagle
Review: I read this book in a very, very piecemeal fashion (over five years it took!) but I really enjoyed it. Darwin is so often depicted as a grumpy old man with the giant beard that I think people tend to forget that his trip on the Beagle was actually when he was quite young, basically a twenty-something who didn't want to go to med school and didn't really know what he wanted to do with his life (I try to emphasize this point to my students as often as I can, since many of them are probably twenty-somethings not sure what they want to do with their lives). So his journals are full of careful observation and beautifully rendered descriptions and thoughtful conclusions, but there's also a fair bit of hitting birds with his rock hammer and jumping on the back giant tortoises and hitting them with sticks until they move and knocking birds off of their perches with the muzzle of his gun. (And also occasionally bemoaning his seasickness.)
It was also totally fascinating reading this book in the light of knowing about Darwin's future work. It's hard not to spot the germs of his future ideas on evolution by natural selection in some of the passages. This book is just peppered with little bits about the length of time that physical features must have taken, and how similar but different animals in different locations are, and the relationship between changing geology and changing vegetation, and island biogeography. For example: "Seeing this gradation and diversity of structure in one small, intimately related group of birds, one might really fancy that from an original paucity of birds in this archipelago, one species had been taken and modified for different ends." There's half of an introductory lecture on the history of evolutionary thought right there. And who doesn't hear echoes (or future echoes, I guess. Pre-echoes?) of the last line of On the Origin of Species in the line "Where on the face of the earth can we find a spot on which close investigation will not discover signs of that endless cycle of change, to which this earth has been, is, and will be subjected?"
This book obviously tickled me as a biologist, but it was also easy to read, and well-written, if full of the Victorian standard run-on sentences, but also some wonderfully evocative passages. Some parts are a little dry - he expounds at great length on some seemingly small and obscure topics, like the formation of coral atolls - but as a whole, it's a really interesting blend of science and adventuring and nature writing, and really a just plain fascinating book to read. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Biologists and those interested in the history of science are the main audience, obviously, but I think anyone who likes travel books, naval adventures, or the age of exploration should find some bits here to interest them as well. If you can find an illustrated edition, I think that would be extremely helpful; if not, keep Wikipedia and a map of the Beagle's journey handy.
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is his account of the journey, edited together from his journal entries at the time. He describes the geology, the animals, the vegetation, and the people of the lands he visits, and speculates about the nature of some of his observations.Review: I read this book in a very, very piecemeal fashion (over five years it took!) but I really enjoyed it. Darwin is so often depicted as a grumpy old man with the giant beard that I think people tend to forget that his trip on the Beagle was actually when he was quite young, basically a twenty-something who didn't want to go to med school and didn't really know what he wanted to do with his life (I try to emphasize this point to my students as often as I can, since many of them are probably twenty-somethings not sure what they want to do with their lives). So his journals are full of careful observation and beautifully rendered descriptions and thoughtful conclusions, but there's also a fair bit of hitting birds with his rock hammer and jumping on the back giant tortoises and hitting them with sticks until they move and knocking birds off of their perches with the muzzle of his gun. (And also occasionally bemoaning his seasickness.)
It was also totally fascinating reading this book in the light of knowing about Darwin's future work. It's hard not to spot the germs of his future ideas on evolution by natural selection in some of the passages. This book is just peppered with little bits about the length of time that physical features must have taken, and how similar but different animals in different locations are, and the relationship between changing geology and changing vegetation, and island biogeography. For example: "Seeing this gradation and diversity of structure in one small, intimately related group of birds, one might really fancy that from an original paucity of birds in this archipelago, one species had been taken and modified for different ends." There's half of an introductory lecture on the history of evolutionary thought right there. And who doesn't hear echoes (or future echoes, I guess. Pre-echoes?) of the last line of On the Origin of Species in the line "Where on the face of the earth can we find a spot on which close investigation will not discover signs of that endless cycle of change, to which this earth has been, is, and will be subjected?"
This book obviously tickled me as a biologist, but it was also easy to read, and well-written, if full of the Victorian standard run-on sentences, but also some wonderfully evocative passages. Some parts are a little dry - he expounds at great length on some seemingly small and obscure topics, like the formation of coral atolls - but as a whole, it's a really interesting blend of science and adventuring and nature writing, and really a just plain fascinating book to read. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Biologists and those interested in the history of science are the main audience, obviously, but I think anyone who likes travel books, naval adventures, or the age of exploration should find some bits here to interest them as well. If you can find an illustrated edition, I think that would be extremely helpful; if not, keep Wikipedia and a map of the Beagle's journey handy.
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LibraryThing member bookwoman247
This is Darwin's account of his famous voyage around the world, with particular focus, of course, on South America.
He was a very young man when he made the journey, and his youthful enthusiasm, curiosity, and sense of wonder were contageous. His keen powers of observation also were manifest on
It is unfortunate that he was somewhat afflicted with the imperialistic, colonial attitudes of his time and culture, although he was perhaps a little more evolved, (pun intended), than most.
Still, it was a great book! I loved it!
The most memorable passage of the book, for me, is an iconic moment when Darwin describes jumping onto the back of a giant Gallapagos tortoise, giving it a whack on the backside, and going for a ride. It's such a perfect image, and so whimsical, how can you not love it?
He was a very young man when he made the journey, and his youthful enthusiasm, curiosity, and sense of wonder were contageous. His keen powers of observation also were manifest on
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every page.It is unfortunate that he was somewhat afflicted with the imperialistic, colonial attitudes of his time and culture, although he was perhaps a little more evolved, (pun intended), than most.
Still, it was a great book! I loved it!
The most memorable passage of the book, for me, is an iconic moment when Darwin describes jumping onto the back of a giant Gallapagos tortoise, giving it a whack on the backside, and going for a ride. It's such a perfect image, and so whimsical, how can you not love it?
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LibraryThing member Devil_llama
This is the original version of The Voyage of the Beagle, the delightful story of Darwin's five-year journey. His descriptions of places, people, and events are lively and engaging, and at times there is a certain ruefulness to his narrative that is quite endearing. Certainly fun reading.
LibraryThing member rakerman
I didn't even know it was an actual book you could read.
Quite interesting.
Our entire modern history is so recent: Darwin sailed on December 27, 1831 - just 174 years ago. The ship returned to England on October 2, 1836.
It's interesting that a lot of people slag Darwin as some theorist, but he
Brazil was still, from his account, basically empty, and slavery persisted in Brazilian plantations. Having travelled several days (from Rio de Janeiro as far as I can tell), he arrives at a fine estate
"April 13th, 1832 - This profusion of food showed itself at dinner, where, if the tables did not groan, the guests surely did; for each person is expected to eat of every dish. One day, having, as I thought, nicely calculated so that nothing should go away untasted, to my utter dismay a roast turkey and a pig appeared in all their substantial reality. During the meals, it was the employment of a man to drive out of the room sundry old hounds, and dozens of little black children, which crawled in together, at every opportunity. As long as the idea of slavery could be banished, there was something exceedingly fascinating in this simple and patriarchal style of living; it was such a perfect retirement and independence from the rest of the world."
Darwin has an insight into the future the next day
"April 14th, 1832 - Considering the enormous area of Brazil, the proportion of cultivated ground can scarcely be considered as anything, compared to that which is left in the state of nature: at some future age, how vast a population it will support!"
In 1830, the world population was approximately 1 billion (audubon.org).
It is also in this period that John James Audubon is doing his great work The Birds of America. In 1833 The Audubon family returns to New York while Audubon and his son John travel to Labrador. (from John James Audubon Chronology)
Quite interesting.
Our entire modern history is so recent: Darwin sailed on December 27, 1831 - just 174 years ago. The ship returned to England on October 2, 1836.
It's interesting that a lot of people slag Darwin as some theorist, but he
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actually went more places and had more adventures in this one voyage than most people will in their entire lives.Brazil was still, from his account, basically empty, and slavery persisted in Brazilian plantations. Having travelled several days (from Rio de Janeiro as far as I can tell), he arrives at a fine estate
"April 13th, 1832 - This profusion of food showed itself at dinner, where, if the tables did not groan, the guests surely did; for each person is expected to eat of every dish. One day, having, as I thought, nicely calculated so that nothing should go away untasted, to my utter dismay a roast turkey and a pig appeared in all their substantial reality. During the meals, it was the employment of a man to drive out of the room sundry old hounds, and dozens of little black children, which crawled in together, at every opportunity. As long as the idea of slavery could be banished, there was something exceedingly fascinating in this simple and patriarchal style of living; it was such a perfect retirement and independence from the rest of the world."
Darwin has an insight into the future the next day
"April 14th, 1832 - Considering the enormous area of Brazil, the proportion of cultivated ground can scarcely be considered as anything, compared to that which is left in the state of nature: at some future age, how vast a population it will support!"
In 1830, the world population was approximately 1 billion (audubon.org).
It is also in this period that John James Audubon is doing his great work The Birds of America. In 1833 The Audubon family returns to New York while Audubon and his son John travel to Labrador. (from John James Audubon Chronology)
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LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
Probably a bit dry for many readers, but I enjoyed the journal and it is much more readable than the 'Origin of Species'. Darwin corrected his first edition and merged some chapters in this, the second edition. This narrative was easiest to assimilate in small doses whilst skimming through some of
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the long treatises. In the second edition, the subtitle was transposed (originally, 'the Geology and Natural History...'), perhaps by John Murray (publisher). The steel engraved illustrations are gorgeous. I've never chanced across the first edition. Show Less
LibraryThing member ElTomaso
The travelogue aspect of this book is what gains it the high rating. Otherwise the error that Darwin made that his observations about nature disproved the existence of a higher power, would have led me to slam the book! Evolution is just a part of the mysterious mechanism by which the universe (if
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you will), makes such magnificent and precious things possible (a small peak at the work of God in progress). I can view Darwin's error with equanimity; atheisim is not an uncommon misconception. (There have been and are quite a few brilliant minds who embraced Jesus Christ, such as Albert Einstein.) Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
To me, Darwin's most interesting book for its vivid personal narration of first-hand experience. Note that it does not emphasize his visit to the Galapagos Islands as much as later accounts might lead one to expect.
LibraryThing member reedist
Very accessible and gripping diary. Darwin's kind and open character and seemingly infinite curiosity come across SO well. Some painful and relevant insights into early c19 attitudes to 'aboriginal' peoples and the destruction of societies and ecosystems.
LibraryThing member FolkeB
"Darwin's recollections of his round-the-world voyage, which he began when only 22 years old!"
LibraryThing member amerynth
If you enjoy natural history, you'll find Darwin's account of his five-year journey around the globe in "The Voyage of the Beagle" both accessible and interesting. His trip is recounted in exhaustive detail -- which I found really enjoyable when he was writing about a subject I was interested in
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and somewhat tedious when he was talking about geology, which I don't much care for reading about. The most enjoyable part of the book was the account of Jemmy Button, York Minster and Fuegia Basket, natives of Tierra del Fuego who were brought to live in England and then brought back home, followed by accounts of South American animals and plants. (Having read "Uttermost Part of the Earth" previously, it was fun to see another account of their trip.) Overall, the book is a fascinating look at the early exploration that helped shape Darwin's theory of evolution. Show Less
LibraryThing member hailelib
This book has long been considered a classic in the history of science. Darwin says in his preface that here he somewhat condensed and corrected some parts and added to others to "render the volume more fitted for popular reading" and has dedicated this volume to Charles Lyell, the author of
The Beagle set sail from Davenport on Dec. 27, 1831 and Darwin disembarked at Falmouth on Oct, 2, 1836 after a voyage of nearly five years. While much of the time was taken up in sailing from one place to another, in nearly every port of call he left the Beagle to stay ashore while the ship did its coastal surveying and mapping (the principal purpose of this expedition). There he observed the flora and fauna as well as the geological formations both near the shore, and, when time permitted, the interior, collecting numerous specimens and discovering many new species and varieties of plants and animals. On occasion he traveled overland and met the ship at another settlement farther along the coast. The journal also contains many observations of the inhabitants at each locale with Darwin being most impressed by the generous hospitality with which he was met almost everywhere.
I generally enjoyed the book although it was heavy going in places because of the extensive use of biological terms which I am largely unfamiliar with. The sections on geology were a bit easier and the descriptions of the people he met were very interesting. However, one must remember that Darwin was a product of English society of the early 1800's and shared many of the attitudes of that society. Those interested in the history of science, particularly the biological sciences, should find it of interest.
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Principles of Geology.The Beagle set sail from Davenport on Dec. 27, 1831 and Darwin disembarked at Falmouth on Oct, 2, 1836 after a voyage of nearly five years. While much of the time was taken up in sailing from one place to another, in nearly every port of call he left the Beagle to stay ashore while the ship did its coastal surveying and mapping (the principal purpose of this expedition). There he observed the flora and fauna as well as the geological formations both near the shore, and, when time permitted, the interior, collecting numerous specimens and discovering many new species and varieties of plants and animals. On occasion he traveled overland and met the ship at another settlement farther along the coast. The journal also contains many observations of the inhabitants at each locale with Darwin being most impressed by the generous hospitality with which he was met almost everywhere.
I generally enjoyed the book although it was heavy going in places because of the extensive use of biological terms which I am largely unfamiliar with. The sections on geology were a bit easier and the descriptions of the people he met were very interesting. However, one must remember that Darwin was a product of English society of the early 1800's and shared many of the attitudes of that society. Those interested in the history of science, particularly the biological sciences, should find it of interest.
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LibraryThing member JodiEasley
This biography about Charles Darwin would be a great addition to a collection of biographies in a classroom. It is very detailed so I would not use it in primary grades, but would be great in a unit on biographies in intermediate grades.
LibraryThing member Cecrow
This record from the 1830s describes the second HMS Beagle survey expedition. Captain Robert Fitzroy thought that a follow-up survey would benefit from having a naturalist onboard, and the recently graduated Darwin's keen enthusiam won him the role. While this voyage is perhaps best known for its
In my younger days I sailed the Great Lakes with my father, lodging fond memories of island stopovers and casual exploration. I took up this journal expecting something of a similar degree but Darwin's interest in flora and fauna far, far exeeds mine. It's very slow-paced through dwelling on the details, and an interest in biology would have helped me since the vast majority of his attention is on the life he encounters both large and small. He also has a lot to say about geological formations and the peoples encountered, which I found more engaging. Very quickly there were too many details for me to follow or remember, but several things stood out and the cumulative effect is impressive. Darwin's attentiveness and observational skills are beyond the pale, and were frankly almost beyond my toleration, but for another reader I can believe this is a gold mine of science and its history that is not to be missed.
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stopover in the Galapagos, that was merely one location visited on a round-the-world-trip. Nearly half of Darwin's journal is devoted to Argentina where the captain's primary map-making mission was served. Much of the rest is spent on Chile, one chapter in the Galapagos, and the remainder of the voyage is summarized in four final chapters.In my younger days I sailed the Great Lakes with my father, lodging fond memories of island stopovers and casual exploration. I took up this journal expecting something of a similar degree but Darwin's interest in flora and fauna far, far exeeds mine. It's very slow-paced through dwelling on the details, and an interest in biology would have helped me since the vast majority of his attention is on the life he encounters both large and small. He also has a lot to say about geological formations and the peoples encountered, which I found more engaging. Very quickly there were too many details for me to follow or remember, but several things stood out and the cumulative effect is impressive. Darwin's attentiveness and observational skills are beyond the pale, and were frankly almost beyond my toleration, but for another reader I can believe this is a gold mine of science and its history that is not to be missed.
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LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
This Folio Society edition of The Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle reprints the 1960 third edition of Charles Darwin’s Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World under Captain Fitz Roy, R.N.. Darwin titled the
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first edition Journal of Researches into the Geology and Natural History of the Various Countries Visited by H.M.S. Beagle under the Command of Captain Fitz Roy, R.N., from 1832 to 1836 and published it in 1839 as the third volume in a series titled, Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle. Captain Robert FitzRoy’s account primarily focused on the actions of the ship and crew as well as hydrographical research while Darwin focused on geology and natural history. Darwin based his account on his journals and his day books, with the first edition selling well enough that his publisher printed a second edition as a standalone from the other volumes in the first edition. Darwin began to explore his ideas about evolution in the course of the second edition, clarifying some language and demonstrating the influence of Charles Lyell’s geological theories, which Darwin read in Lyell’s Principles of Geology (1830-1833). Darwin’s The Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle is not only an interesting work for the history of science, but offers a glimpse into naval life, exploration, and more in the 1830s. It’s somewhat dry compared to modern popular science writing, but Darwin has a great felicity with language at times plus it’s worth reading just to understand his thought process as he began developing his theory of evolution. This Folio Society edition features period illustrations and matches their editions of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Show Less
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Original publication date
1839
1889
1845, 2nd edn.
1860, 3rd edn.