First published 2009
Charles Darwin stands at his study window, torn between his scientific discoveries and his wife's unwavering religious beliefs. Emma Darwin prays each evening while Charles develops ideas that challenge everything she holds sacred. He published The Origin of Species in 1859, but the theory of evolution creates a rift that runs through their household and their hearts. Emma's deep faith forces Charles to examine not just natural selection, but the cost of his work on their relationship. Their marriage becomes a microcosm of the larger battle between science and religion that continues today. Deborah Heiligman reveals how personal relationships shaped one of history's most important scientific theories, showing readers that behind every great discovery lies a human story of love, doubt, and compromise.
Genres: literary-fiction, christian, historical-fiction, 20th-century, religion, biography-memoir, 19th-century, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Period: 19th Century
268 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)