Crushed Under a Mountain of Facts | New Perspectives on The Descent of Man

Linnean Society of London

Historians of science Jim Costa and Beth Yale bring new perspectives to Charles Darwin's second-most famous work "The Descent of Man".

This is an in-person event only. There is no live stream.(The talk will be followed by a book sale/signing and drinks reception in our historic library, where a paid bar will be available.) Join evolutionary biologist and Darwin and Wallace scholar James Costa and historian of science Elizabeth Yale for an exploration of the origin and evolution of Charles Darwin's second most famous work, The Descent of Man.Inspired by insights from their new annotated edition of Descent (Princeton, 2026), Costa and Yale shed light on the cultural context in which Darwin developed his ideas on human evolution and sexual selection, how conversations with fellow naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace shaped Descent in crucial ways, and how his ideas were received in the scientific and popular press.Spanning the boundaries of history and science, this first fully annotated edition of Descent illuminates the rich cultural and scientific contexts underpinning Darwin’s ideas and introduces his landmark book to a new generation of readers. James T. Costa is director of the Highlands Biological Station and professor of biology at Western Carolina University. His books include Darwin's Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory and Wallace, Darwin, and the Origin of Species.Elizabeth E. Yale is associate professor in the Department of History and the Center for the Book at the University of Iowa. She is the author of Sociable Knowledge: Natural History and the Nation in Early Modern Britain. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ConcessionsPlease buy the concession ticket if you are:<ul><li>65 years of age, or over</li><li>Under 26 years of age</li><li>Currently in receipt of UK government benefit (including, but not limited to, Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit, and Universal Credit).</li><li>Currently in full-time education.</li></ul>-----------------------------------------------------------This is an in-person event at the Linnean Society of London on Piccadilly, London, only.If you'd like to stay updated about our events programme, and other news,<a href="https://linnean.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2783644d4aace7ae0b6516fe5&amp;id=965126d9ab" title="https://linnean.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2783644d4aace7ae0b6516fe5&amp;id=965126d9ab" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> please subscribe to our monthly newsletter here.</a><a href="https://www.linnean.org/meetings-and-events/visitor-terms-and-conditions" title="https://www.linnean.org/meetings-and-events/visitor-terms-and-conditions" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Terms and Conditions.</a>

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Crushed Under a Mountain of Facts | New Perspectives on The Descent of Man

More events from Linnean Society of London

Discover more events from Linnean Society of London, from Science & Tech to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in London and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Crushed Under a Mountain of Facts | New Perspectives on The Descent of Man

More events from Linnean Society of London

Discover more events from Linnean Society of London, from Science & Tech to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in London and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.