IN DARWIN’S day, the garden at Down House – his home from 1842 until his death in 1882 – was a hub of scientific activity. With experiments on pollination, hybridisation and dispersal of plants, and findings that paved the way for modern genetics and studies of food chains and biodiversity, it’s not surprising to find strong connections between this quiet spot and today’s biological sciences. Boulter gives a standard history of Darwin’s life and times, before going in search of these connections. The result is a useful primer for anyone wanting an overview of the man and his legacy.
Darwin’s Garden
Constable