This Folio Society edition of The Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle reprints the 1960 third edition of Charles Darwin’s Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries Visited during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle Round the World under Captain Fitz Roy, R.N.. Darwin titled the first edition Journal of Researches into the Geology and Natural History of the Various Countries Visited by H.M.S. Beagle under the Command of Captain Fitz Roy, R.N., from 1832 to 1836 and published it in 1839 as the third volume in a series titled, Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle. Captain Robert FitzRoy’s account primarily focused on the actions of the ship and crew as well as hydrographical research while Darwin focused on geology and natural history. Darwin based his account on his journals and his day books, with the first edition selling well enough that his publisher printed a second edition as a standalone from the other volumes in the first edition. Darwin began to explore his ideas about evolution in the course of the second edition, clarifying some language and demonstrating the influence of Charles Lyell’s geological theories, which Darwin read in Lyell’s Principles of Geology (1830-1833). Darwin’s The Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle is not only an interesting work for the history of science, but offers a glimpse into naval life, exploration, and more in the 1830s. It’s somewhat dry compared to modern popular science writing, but Darwin has a great felicity with language at times plus it’s worth reading just to understand his thought process as he began developing his theory of evolution. This Folio Society edition features period illustrations and matches their editions of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, The Descent of Man, and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. ( )

Tja, weinig van te zeggen. Dit kon me totaal niet boeien. 1 ster voor de moeite. ( )

Charles Darwin wrote this diary/journal while on board the HMS Beagle as the naturalist of the ship. It's an interesting account of his journey around the world. Most of his descriptions of the inhabitants aren't very flattering, except when it came to Tahiti. Everywhere else in these places people inhabited hovels and had bad manners and all sorts of really terrible things to say. He knows a lot about plants and animals, and recites the genus and family names of pretty much everything he finds.

I can accept his superiority complex since he comes from a time where that sort of thing was acceptable, but I can't accept his overuse of commas. I don't know why, but he puts commas almost everywhere, and I can't find any rhyme or reason for this. It is terribly annoying to read it like that, though I suppose I can just say "unnecessary comma" in a Strongbad Voice whenever it comes up...

In any case, this journal is a fascinating study of nature and man. You can tell that at the end of the book he just wants to go home, though this was a pivotal point in Darwin's life. ( )

Probably a bit dry for many readers, but I enjoyed the journal and it is much more readable than the 'Origin of Species'. Darwin corrected his first edition and merged some chapters in this, the second edition. This narrative was easiest to assimilate in small doses whilst skimming through some of the long treatises. In the second edition, the subtitle was transposed (originally, 'the Geology and Natural History...'), perhaps by John Murray (publisher). The steel engraved illustrations are gorgeous. I've never chanced across the first edition. ( )

This record from the 1830s describes the second HMS Beagle survey expedition. Captain Robert Fitzroy thought that a follow-up survey would benefit from having a naturalist onboard, and the recently graduated Darwin's keen enthusiam won him the role. While this voyage is perhaps best known for its stopover in the Galapagos, that was merely one location visited on a round-the-world-trip. Nearly half of Darwin's journal is devoted to Argentina where the captain's primary map-making mission was served. Much of the rest is spent on Chile, one chapter in the Galapagos, and the remainder of the voyage is summarized in four final chapters.

In my younger days I sailed the Great Lakes with my father, lodging fond memories of island stopovers and casual exploration. I took up this journal expecting something of a similar degree but Darwin's interest in flora and fauna far, far exeeds mine. It's very slow-paced through dwelling on the details, and an interest in biology would have helped me since the vast majority of his attention is on the life he encounters both large and small. He also has a lot to say about geological formations and the peoples encountered, which I found more engaging. Very quickly there were too many details for me to follow or remember, but several things stood out and the cumulative effect is impressive. Darwin's attentiveness and observational skills are beyond the pale, and were frankly almost beyond my toleration, but for another reader I can believe this is a gold mine of science and its history that is not to be missed. ( )