Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

To marry, or not to marry? That was the question the Charles Darwin posed himself. He could come up with so many more reasons not to marry- a wife and family would interfere with his research after all, yet the desire for love and companionship ultimately won out. Darwin’s decision was confirmed the more time that he spent with Emma, though he was concerned that deeply religious Emma could never accept him because his views on evolution contradicted her religious beliefs entirely. The success of the Darwin’s marriage is a testament their faith in each other and their respect for the others beliefs.

Heiligman’s examination of the marriage of Charles and Emma Darwin is solely for motivated readers or those with an interest in the subject. The examination of Charles’ and Emma’s marriage sheds a new light onto the personal struggles of Darwin as he crafted his groundbreaking scientific theory. It also gives readers’ a sense of who Darwin was as a person- the tragedies that befell his family and his constant illness. Unfortunately, the writing though meticulously researched is dragged down by the extensive details and repetition.