Charles Darwin, the naturalist made famous for providing the proof of evolution and natural selection, makes a list highlighting the pros and cons of being married. He decides there are more positives on his list and married his first cousin, Emma Darwin. Their relationship and marriage turns out to be more than he could have predicted, they are two people that are completely in love. Their opinions only differ on one key issue, religion. Emma is devoted to God, prays constantly, believes in heaven and believes in God above all else. Throughout her life, she tries to convince Charles of God's presence, but he simply can not believe based on his scientific evidence. The couple gives birth to ten children, though three end up dying. Two children pass away as infants and their third is the ten year old, Annie. This was the couple's favorite child and her death absolutely crushes them; Charles and Emma hardly ever speak of Annie for the rest of their life. Charles suffers of illness throughout his entire life and works on his research throughout his pains. Emma is his constant nurse and Charles dies in Emma's arms.
Impact on me
This book blew me away! I did not know that a non-fiction work filled with research and direct quotes could be so romantic and so magical. The love between Charles and Emma was so palpable based on Heiligman's writing that I found myself giddy during the days that I spent reading this book. Heiligman's personal questions based on the questions of faith for Charles Darwin left me wondering if Charles did believe in God a little bit with obvious doubts. Perhaps the world will never know what his private thoughts and oral conversations with Emma really did consist of in the matters of faith, religion and God. This book also provided a supplemented viewpoint on evolution and how this concept was founded.
Reviews
With great empathy and humor, Heiligman’s lively narrative examines the life and legacy of Darwin through the unique lens of his domestic life, an inspired choice that helps us understand that for all the impact his theory would have on the world, nowhere did its consequences resonate so loudly as within the walls of his own home.
Hunt, J. (2009). Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith. Horn Book Magazine, 85(1), 115.
She shows how Darwin's love for his intelligent, steadfast, and deeply religious cousin was an important factor in his scientific work-pushing him to document his theory of natural selection for decades before publishing it with great trepidation. Just as the pair embodied a marriage of science and religion, this book weaves together the chronicle of the development of a major scientific theory with a story of true love. Published for young adults, this title will be equally interesting to adults drawn to revisit Darwin on his 200th birthday.
Heath, E. (2009). Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith. School Library Journal, 55(1), 127.
This nonfiction account provides a new perspective on the scientist and his life. Focusing often on Darwin's wife, Emma--who took an opposite stance from his on religion and the afterlife--these stories offer a sensitive and personal glimpse into the man, his lingering illnesses and his sincere devotion to his eight children and beloved wife.
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith. (2010). Christian Century, 127(25), 26.
In the library
Charles and Emma would be a wonderful book to read and discuss when the science classroom's teach the controversial (and much talked about in public schools)creationism and evolution. Charles and Emma hits both of these topics with an unbiased point of view that could get biased and/or learning students to really think about the implications and evidence given for both lessons. This book can also be references as students write research papers which must include sources and minimal direct quotations. This book is an excellent and engaging example for students to read and to reference when writing research papers, and even short answer questions used for standardized tests.
Heiligman, D. (2009). Charles and Emma New York : Henry Holt and Co.
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