Books by Charles Darwin

 
Most people don't seem to appreciate the depth and breadth of Darwin's work. Someone posted a comment on a recent Sandwalk thread arguing that Darwin was a "one trick pony" compared to Isaac Newton. This is hard to justify when you scan the variety of scientific articles that Darwin published in his lifetime and you consider the record of his scientific correspondance—much of which has been preserved.

But setting all that aside, the list of books that he published gives us a fair impression of the range of subjects that Darwin covered. I'm not even sure that this list is complete.

This list of Darwin's books is not meant to belittle the contributions of Isaac Newton, that other contender for world's best scientist. After all, we all know that in addition to Principia, Newton also wrote numerous works on the interpretation of the Bible (e.g. Observations on Daniel and The Apocalypse of St. John (1733)) and he spent a lot of time studying alchemy. Newton predicted that the world would end in 2060 and Newton followers will no doubt become very anxious as we approach that date.

Books by Charles Darwin

• The structure and distribution of coral reefs. Being the first part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N. during the years 1832 to 1836. (1842)


• Geological observations on the volcanic islands visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, together with some brief notices of the geology of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope. Being the second part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N. during the years 1832 to 1836. (1844)


• Geological observations on South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle, under the command of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N. during the years 1832 to 1836. (1846)


• Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the years 1826 and 1836, describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagle's circumnavigation of the globe. (1839)


• A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species. The Lepadidae; or, pedunculated cirripedes. [Vol. 1] (1851)


• A monograph of the sub-class Cirripedia, with figures of all the species. The Balanidae, (or sessile cirripedes); the Verrucidae. [Vol. 2] (1854)


• A monograph on the fossil Lepadidae, or, pedunculated cirripedes of Great Britain. [Vol. 1] (1851)


• A monograph on the fossil Balanidae and Verrucidae of Great Britain. [Vol. 2] (1855)


• On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (1st ed.) (1859), 2nd ed (1860). 3rd ed. (1861) , 4th ed. (1866), 5th ed. (1869), 6th ed. (1872)


• On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects. (1862), 2nd ed. (1877)


• The expression of the emotions in man and animals. (1872)


• Insectivorous plants. (1875), 2nd. ed. (1888)


• The movements and habits of climbing plants. (1875)


• The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. (1876), 2nd ed. (1878)


• The variation of animals and plants under domestication. (1868), 2nd ed. (1875)


• The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1st ed.) (1871), 2nd ed. (1882)


• The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. (1872)


• The structure and distribution of coral reefs. 2d ed. (1872)


• Geological observations on the volcanic islands and parts of South America visited during the voyage of H.M.S. 'Beagle'. 2d ed. (1876)


• The power of movement in plants. (1880)


• The formation of vegetable mould, through the action of worms. (1881)


• The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809–1882. (unpublished until 1958)

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