So much has been writÂten about hand-writÂten letÂters, mostÂly lamentÂing their death. What else can be added about the beauÂtiÂful vulÂnerÂaÂbilÂiÂty of handÂwritÂing and the satÂisÂfyÂing feel of paper staÂtionÂary and envelopes, not to menÂtion the mirÂaÂcle of letÂter delivÂery? Think of all those heartÂsick solÂdiers in wars old and modÂern receivÂing an actuÂal letÂter from home, thouÂsands of miles away.
The only news about letÂter writÂing is that we conÂtinÂue to disÂcovÂer its valÂue. Just recentÂly CamÂbridge UniÂverÂsiÂty pubÂlished some 1,200 letÂters exchanged between Charles DarÂwin and his closÂest friend, the botanist Joseph DalÂton HookÂer. The letÂters span 40 years of Darwin’s workÂing life, from 1843 to his death in 1882, and join the othÂer letÂters in the DarÂwin CorÂreÂsponÂdence Project.
There is so much to appreÂciÂate about these letÂters. Call it 19th cenÂtuÂry broÂmance, if you must, but the corÂreÂsponÂdence between DarÂwin and HookÂer touched on nearÂly every subÂject, sciÂenÂtifÂic and perÂsonÂal. DarÂwin wrote HookÂer for his help negoÂtiÂatÂing with pubÂlishÂers, for his opinÂion about whether seeds from islands withÂout four-legged aniÂmals are ever hook-shaped, and for his supÂport after his 6‑year-old daughÂter Maria died.
From a sciÂenÂtifÂic point of view the most imporÂtant letÂter may be the one DarÂwin wrote HookÂer on JanÂuÂary 11, 1844. WritÂing from his home, Down House in Kent, DarÂwin fires quesÂtions at HookÂer about seeds, seashells and ArcÂtic species—his mind obviÂousÂly a blur of activity—and then describes that his work has takÂen a “preÂsumpÂtuÂous” turn. After years of research and colÂlectÂing specÂiÂmens, he was beginÂning to form an idea that “species are not (it is like conÂfessÂing a murÂder) immutable.”
FifÂteen years latÂer DarÂwin pubÂlished On the OriÂgin of Species. (Find it on our Free Audio Books and Free eBooks colÂlecÂtions.)
In his letÂters to HookÂer, himÂself a great botanist and explorÂer, DarÂwin works out and worÂries over his ideas. In one letÂter he expressÂes impaÂtience with all othÂer existÂing explaÂnaÂtions for the geoÂgraphÂiÂcal disÂtriÂbÂuÂtion of plants.
The CorÂreÂsponÂdence Project has archived more than 7,500 of Darwin’s letÂters altoÂgethÂer, includÂing the mail he sent home while at sea aboard The BeaÂgle. DarÂwin was 22 when he joined a team to chart the coast of South AmerÂiÂca, a trip that was planned for two years but which stretched into five. After a bout of seaÂsickÂness, DarÂwin wrote home to his father.
A quick aside to those who long for the days of long letÂters and who believe that our IQs drop a point with each text: Take note of Darwin’s libÂerÂal use of amperÂsands, numerÂals and quaint 19th cenÂtuÂry conÂtracÂtions (sh’d for should, etc.). IMHO, these are all just VicÂtoÂriÂan shortÂcuts to speed up the process of handÂwritÂing when the mind can work so much more quickÂly.
Kate Rix writes about eduÂcaÂtion and digÂiÂtal media. VisÂit her webÂsite: .
Good afterÂnoon,
Is there a posÂsiÂbilÂiÂty to have this segÂment of the letÂter put into a text forÂmat for me? this is for my class and would be great for the chilÂdren!
Thank you!
I would also realÂly appreÂciÂate to get the text forÂmat of this letÂter.
Kind regards!