This unique anthology brings together a marvelous collection of Darwin’s most accessible and significant writings, providing the most fully rounded picture of his ideas to be found in a single volume. This marvelous book presents readers with the key chapters of his most important books, including excerpts from the *Journal of Researches* on the *Beagle* voyage (1845), the *Origin of Species* (1859), and the *Descent of Man* (1871), along with the full, authoritative text of Darwin’s delightful autobiography *Recollections*. These writings are accompanied by generous selections of responses from Darwin’s nineteenth-century readers, providing a keen sense of the original controversy sparked by his ideas. The wide-ranging Introduction by James A. Secord explores the global impact and origins of Darwin’s work and the reasons for its unparalleled significance today. The book also includes a map of the *Beagle* ‘s voyage, a biographical appendix identifying everyone mentioned in the texts, illustrations from the *Journal of Researches* , and an index. This generous collection of Darwin’s finest writings will make a superb introduction to ideas that truly changed the world. **About the Series:** For over 100 years **Oxford World’s Classics** has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford’s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.