About the book
Fritz Müller (1821-1897), though not as well known as his colleague Charles Darwin, belongs in the cohort of great nineteenth-century naturalists. In Darwin’s Man in Brazil, David A. West recovers Müller’s legacy. He describes the close intellectual kinship between Müller and Darwin, detailing a lively correspondence spanning seventeen years, in which the two men often discussed new research topics and exchanged ideas. Darwin frequently praised Müller’s powers of observation and interpretation, counting him among those scientists whose opinions he valued most.
A free thinker who refused to sign the Christian oaths required of teachers in Prussia, Müller emigrated to Brazil in 1852 to become a pioneer farmer researching tropical biology. In the 1860s he reorganized his biological research in order to test Darwin’s theory of evolution. Conducting field studies to answer questions generated from a Darwinian perspective, Müller was unique among naturalists testing Darwin’s theory of natural selection because he investigated an enormous diversity of plants and animals rather than a relatively narrow range of taxa.
Despite the importance and scope of his work, however, Müller is known for relatively few of his discoveries. West remedies this oversight, chronicling the life and work of this remarkable and overlooked man of science.
Editions of Darwin's Man in Brazil
- PDF
- ISBN 9780813055800
Read an Excerpt
Fritz Müller (1821-1897), though not as well known as his colleague Charles Darwin, belongs in the cohort of great nineteenth-century naturalists. In Darwin’s Man in Brazil, David A. West recovers Müller’s legacy. He describes the close intellectual kinship between Müller and Darwin, detailing a lively correspondence spanning seventeen years, in which the two men often discussed new research topics and exchanged ideas. Darwin frequently praised Müller’s powers of observation and interpretation, counting him among those scientists whose opinions he valued most.
A free thinker who refused to sign the Christian oaths required of teachers in Prussia, Müller emigrated to Brazil in 1852 to become a pioneer farmer researching tropical biology. In the 1860s he reorganized his biological research in order to test Darwin’s theory of evolution. Conducting field studies to answer questions generated from a Darwinian perspective, Müller was unique among naturalists testing Darwin’s theory of natural selection because he investigated an enormous diversity of plants and animals rather than a relatively narrow range of taxa.
Despite the importance and scope of his work, however, Müller is known for relatively few of his discoveries. West remedies this oversight, chronicling the life and work of this remarkable and overlooked man of science.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Darwin's Man in Brazil about?
Fritz Müller (1821-1897), though not as well known as his colleague Charles Darwin, belongs in the cohort of great nineteenth-century naturalists. In Darwin’s Man in Brazil, David A. West recovers Müller’s legacy. He describes the close intellectual kinship between Müller and Darwin, detailing a lively correspondence spanning seventeen years, in which the two men often discussed new research topics and exchanged ideas. Darwin frequently praised Müller’s powers of observation and interpretation, counting him among those scientists whose opinions he valued most.
A free thinker who refused to sign the Christian oaths required of teachers in Prussia, Müller emigrated to Brazil in 1852 to become a pioneer farmer researching tropical biology. In the 1860s he reorganized his biological research in order to test Darwin’s theory of evolution. Conducting field studies to answer questions generated from a Darwinian perspective, Müller was unique among naturalists testing Darwin’s theory of natural selection because he investigated an enormous diversity of plants and animals rather than a relatively narrow range of taxa.
Despite the importance and scope of his work, however, Müller is known for relatively few of his discoveries. West remedies this oversight, chronicling the life and work of this remarkable and overlooked man of science.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Darwin's Man in Brazil?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: science, technology and medicine
Where can I read a sample of Darwin's Man in Brazil?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780813055800
How long is Darwin's Man in Brazil and how many pages does it have?
Darwin's Man in Brazil has 320 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Darwin's Man in Brazil?
David A. West
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Darwin's Man in Brazil is available as pdf(ISBN 9780813055800)
Where can I buy Darwin's Man in Brazil online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Darwin's Man in Brazil?