Showing 81–100 of 175 items
The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Sorry about enormous size of Variation MS, but cannot shorten it now. If JM is afraid to publish, CD will consider agreement cancelled. Suggests he ask someone with judgment to read the MS. Has written concluding chapter on man. Whether it will be included depends on size of volume.
CD annoyed at large size of Variation. Suggests printing detailed parts in small type. JM can, of course, decline to publish altogether.
Relieved by JM’s note and by his agreement on type size. Is alarmed by what the verdict [on Variation] of JM’s friend will be. He is not a man of science. An unscientific reader would have condemned the Origin. An eminent semi-scientific man thought the Journal of researches not worth publishing.
Approves of type [for Variation]. Pleased to hear from Hooker that he is not surprised that MS is big.
Hopes JM’s friend will give his judgment [on Variation] soon; and urges JM to come to a decision about publishing. CD believes it will have "a fair sale".
CD agrees to JM’s proposal of half-profits. Thinks it a mistake to print only 750 copies. The agreement on half-profit is for first edition only. CD estimates his book at a higher value than JM does.
Is convinced his chapter on man [for Variation] will excite plenty of attention and abuse, which he supposes is as good as praise for selling a book.
The compositors have invented a title [for Variation] which CD thinks is better than the advertised one. CD can form no opinion on number of copies. Asks that clean sheets be sent to German and Russian publishers for translation.
The new title is fixed. Thanks for clean sheets. As to number of copies, now that JM proposes 1500, CD is frightened.
Asks JM not to send stereotypes [of Variation] to Schweizerbart until he has heard that Carus will translate it.
CD writes about stereotypes for German and Russian editions of Variation.
Asks whether JM is interested in publishing A. E. Brehm, Illustrirtes Thierleben [4 vols. (1864–7)], which has had immense sale on the continent.
Is making good progress with proofs [of Variation].
Thanks for "pleasant remittance" of £250 for 4th edition of Origin.
Glad to see that Orchids sells a little.
Hopes Variation will be more successful.
An absurd error ("Election" for "Selection") in the advertisement of Variation. Dallas is the best man for index.
Dallas’ index [for Variation] well done but rather too full.
A hybrid from an ass and a bull is utterly incredible.
Introduces Clair Grece who wishes to translate a work on English grammar from the German.
CD exasperated by Dallas’ delay in finishing index [for Variation]. "I am prepared to throw the Index overboard."
Thinks JM should reconsider publishing a translation of Brehm’s Thierleben. It is excellent and would "sell largely".
Heartily glad for JM’s sake at sale [of Variation]. Thinks JM right to publish a smaller second edition, for "the public will soon find out that it is dull" – though scientifically valuable. The index is excellent. CD is "always greedy" for presentation copies.
Thanks JM for presentation copies [of Variation]. Sends directions and list.
Has been told positively that hostile review in Athenæum was by Berthold Seemann, to whom he once refused a testimonial.
On the whole, reviews have been very good.
Payment of 400 guineas [Variation royalties] delights CD.