First published in 1859, it has continued to sell, to be reviewed and discussed, attacked and defended. The Origin is one of those books whose controversial reputation ensures that many who have never read it nevertheless have an opinion about it. Dr Jim Endersby, a lecturer at the University of Sussex, will debunk some of the myths that surround Darwin’s book, especially the idea that it caused a ‘war’ between science and religion. By taking a close look at the time and place where the book was originally written, published and read, Endersby argues we get a more subtle, complex and interesting picture of Darwin’s achievement.


Speaker: Dr Jim Endersby, University of Sussex, Editor of new edition of On the Origin of the Species, Cambridge University Press