Truth for its own Sake: The Story of Charles Darwin, written for Young People

Description:

First edition. Rare. Only four copies listed on Copac. A biographical account of Darwin's life by Walter Mawer, editor of a short lived natural history periodical for boys, Life-Lore. This work is of both literary and scientific interest, offering a hagiographic portrayal of Darwin, described by Mawer as possessing 'the nobility of a saint.' Mawer's biography sought to inspire youthful readers with Darwin's unwavering pursuit of truth and scientific integrity, declaring him 'the most illustrious of the good and noble since Jesus and Socrates.' Mawer’s text provides a unique lens into late 19th-century perceptions of Darwin and the cultural reception of his groundbreaking scientific work. However, the biography was not without controversy; it provoked criticism from Darwin’s son, Francis Darwin, who was sufficiently displeased to request that John Murray, his own publisher, send a complaint to Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Notably referenced in Bernard Lightman's 'The Many Lives of Charles Darwin: Early Biographies and the Definitive Evolutionist', Notes Rec. R. Soc. (2010) Vol. 64, Mawer's Truth for its own Sake is noted for its effort to position Darwin as a moral exemplar for younger generations and offers a glimpse into late Victorian educational ideals, where figures like Darwin were used as symbols of moral and intellectual virtue.

An important and rare item for collectors of Darwiniana.

Condition

Small 8vo (187x130mm), orig. dec. cloth, a little rubbed, minor wear to extremities, all edges gilt. Library bookplate to pastedown, front free endpaper removed.