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Charles Darwin: The Power of Place
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Plot Summary of Charles Darwin: The Power of Place
" Browne's second volume begins in 1858 with the circumstances surrounding the production and reception of the great work of Darwin's life, the “Origin of Species." Recipient of a large inheritance from his financially astute father, he was blessed with the leisure to pursue his scientific inclinations as something of a gentleman amateur, not unusual in his day.   Having spent twenty years collecting factual material, Darwin was only compelled into presenting his revolutionary work to the public by a coincidence. One of his many scientific correspondents, Alfred Russell Wallace, sent him an essay which he had written for his perusal and help in getting it to the right people. Darwin read the essay and was shocked to find that it was in fact his own theory in summary. Worried over the loss of his proprietorship of the idea and his ethical obligation to Wallace, he consulted his scientific friends and was persuaded to get his own theories out to the public in a joint presentation with the Wallace essay.

Browne discusses the adverse critical reaction to the book as well as the support that Darwin got from Thomas Henry Huxley and others. "

Jack Goodstein, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Charles Darwin: The Power of Place
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - scientist/inventor
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Period of greatest activity? - 1800's

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - scientist
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - British
How sensitive is this person? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other people

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 (some)
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Century: - 19th century

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Writer's slant towards subject: - favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of set of events during life
If this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult
Pictures/Illustrations? - A lot 11-15 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - little dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book
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Janet Browne Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Jack Goodstein  

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