The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: Volume 15, 1867 - Critical

In this review of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: Volume 15, 1867 the editors present a focused collection for readers interested in the development of Darwin's late-1860s thought. This volume is best for scholars, students of Victorian science and any reader wanting primary-source access to Darwin's network during the year he intensified work on human evolution and expression. The single biggest reason to buy is the depth of correspondence showing how Darwin broadened his inquiries via questionnaires and international contacts, illuminating the origins of ideas in Descent of Man and Expression of the Emotions.

Key Features

• Year-focused correspondence: Concentrates on letters from 1867 when Darwin intensified work that led to major publications, providing clear chronological context and insight into his research priorities.
• Primary sources: Presents Darwin's exchanges about human expression and sexual selection, offering direct evidence of his thinking and methods for historians and researchers.
• Expanded network evidence: Documents the wider circle of correspondents reached through Darwin's questionnaires, showing how crowd-sourced observations influenced his conclusions.
• Editorial scholarship: Edited by experienced scholars, the volume contextualizes letters and proof-sheets relevant to Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication, aiding interpretation.
• Readable format: The editorial apparatus makes the material accessible to non-specialists who want reliable annotations without sifting through manuscript archives.

Who It's For

The volume is ideal for historians of science, graduate students, and serious readers of Darwin who want to trace the development of his ideas about human descent, sexual selection and emotional expression. It is especially useful for those researching the social and correspondence networks that fed Darwin's work in 1867.

Less suitable for casual readers seeking a narrative biography or an introductory summary of Darwin's theories; those audiences may prefer a single-author synthesis rather than a scholarly correspondence volume focused on primary documents and editorial notes.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Rich primary material documents Darwin's inquiries into human expression and sexual selection during a pivotal year.
• Editorial notes and context make the letters accessible to researchers and informed readers.
• Shows how Darwin expanded his empirical base through questionnaires and wider correspondent networks.

Cons

• Scholarly presentation and dense primary texts may be slow reading for non-specialist audiences.

Specifications

Title	The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: Volume 15, 1867
Year covered	1867
Subject focus	Human expression, sexual selection, variation under domestication
Content type	Edited correspondence and editorial notes
Editors	Frederick Burkhardt, James Secord, The Editors of the Darwin Correspondence Project
Relevant publications	Descent of Man; Expression of the Emotions; Variation of Animals and Plants

Our Verdict

The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: Volume 15, 1867 is a valuable scholarly resource that sheds light on Darwin's methods and the expansion of his empirical network during a critical year. Serious students and researchers will find the primary letters and editorial context excellent value for understanding the origins of his later books; casual readers should be prepared for a document-based, academic presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this volume cover Darwin's work on human evolution?
Yes; the letters document Darwin's intensified inquiries in 1867 related to human descent and sexual selection that led toward Descent of Man.

Are the letters edited with notes?
Yes; the volume includes editorial annotations and context to help interpret the correspondence and related proof-sheets.

Who edited this edition?
The volume is edited by Frederick Burkhardt, James Secord and the editors of the Darwin Correspondence Project.