In Praise of Darwin: George Romanes and the Evolution of a Darwinian

In this review the book In Praise of Darwin: George Romanes and the Evolution of a Darwinian Believer is presented as a focused scholarly portrait that will interest readers of intellectual history and religious studies. The bottom line: this is a thoughtful recovery of George John Romanes as both a serious evolutionary scientist and a religious poet, and it is most valuable for readers who want a nuanced, document-based reappraisal rather than a polemic. The discovery and first reprinting of Romanes's lost Memorial Poem to Darwin gives the book a foundation of primary material that sets it apart.

Key Features

• Recovered primary text: Includes the original typescript of Romanes's Memorial Poem to Darwin, reprinted for the first time after being lost for more than a century, which allows direct access to his voice.
• Biographical reassessment: Reframes Romanes's life and religious journey, correcting the tendency to dismiss his later theistic writings as merely posthumous editorial additions.
• Literary exploration: Examines Romanes's extensive poetry, much of it religious, bringing into view a neglected creative dimension of a major Darwinian thinker.
• Scholarly argument: Makes a careful case that historians have misunderstood Romanes's relationship to faith and science, supported by documentary evidence rather than speculation.
• Accessible to readers: Written for both scholars and interested general readers, providing context for Romanes's thought without requiring specialized background.

Who It's For

This book is best for readers of intellectual history, religious studies, and philosophy who want a detailed, source-based reassessment of a Darwinian figure. Scholars researching Victorian science or the history of theism will find the reprinted poem and the reassessment of Romanes's religious writings particularly useful.

It is less suited for readers seeking a broad, popular biography of Darwin himself or a general introduction to evolutionary theory; those audiences will find this work more narrowly focused on Romanes's reconciliation of faith and science and on primary texts.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Brings to light the original typescript of the Memorial Poem, offering new primary material for study.
• Provides a careful, corrective narrative that challenges simplistic accounts of Romanes's religious life.
• Highlights Romanes's poetic output, expanding understanding of his intellectual and emotional concerns.

Cons

• The book's narrow focus on Romanes and his poetry may feel specialized for readers seeking broader coverage of Victorian science.

Specifications

Title	In Praise of Darwin: George Romanes and the Evolution of a Darwinian Believer
Author	J. David Pleins
Primary content	Reassessment of Romanes's life, religious writings, and poetry
Notable inclusion	Original typescript of Romanes's Memorial Poem to Darwin, reprinted
Relevant fields	Religion & Spirituality; Religious Studies; Philosophy; History of science
Approach	Document-based scholarly interpretation and literary exploration

Our Verdict

In Praise of Darwin is a focused, well-documented study that restores an important but misunderstood figure to fuller view. Readers interested in how a major Darwinian thinker grappled with faith and science will find strong value in the reprinted poem and the corrective scholarship; it represents good value for anyone seeking primary material and a measured reinterpretation rather than a sweeping biography.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book include primary texts by Romanes?
Yes. It reprints the original typescript of Romanes's Memorial Poem to Darwin, which had been lost for more than a century.

Is this a general biography of Darwin?
No. The book focuses on George John Romanes, his scientific contributions, religious journey, and poetic output, not on Darwin's biography.

Who wrote this reassessment?
The reassessment is authored by J. David Pleins, who presents documentary evidence to reframe Romanes's relationship to faith and science.