"Charles Darwin changed the direction of modern thought by establishing the basis of evolutionary biology. This volume brings together a fascinating selection of his letters, offering a glimpse of his daily experiences, scientific observations, his personal concerns, and friendships. Beginning with a charming set of letters written to an unnamed friend at the age of twelve, through his university years in Edinburgh and Cambridge up to the publication of his most famous work, On the Origin of Species in 1859, these letters chart one of the most exciting periods of Darwin's life, including the voyage of the Beagle and subsequent studies which led him to develop his theory of natural selection. Darwin's vivid writing style enables the reader to see the world through his own eyes, as he matures from grubby schoolboy in Shropshire to one of the most controversial thinkers of modern times."--Book jacket.