It took almost twenty years of hard work for this literary and scientific treasure to be brought to light.
A team of archivists managed to bring together a set of journals, brochures, articles and works to reconstruct the library of Charles Darwin, who died 142 years ago.
Although part of his library was preserved and cataloged at the University of Cambridge and the University of Down House, many documents had until then been lost or dispersed.
“
Until now, 85% of its content was unknown or unpublished
,” the researchers estimate.
Some documents belonged to private collections and were sometimes sold at auction.
The research work therefore required patience, thoroughness and perseverance.
The operation, entitled, “The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online”, has been carried out since 2006 by John van Wyhe, a British historian who works at the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore.
From now on, it is possible to consult the 300-page catalog online, detailing 7,400 titles spread over 13,000 volumes, articles, books, brochures and newspapers.
Around 9,300 links redirect to copies of the works available for free online.
Profusion of subjects and languages
This collection is marked by its eclecticism.
Books on biology, geology, philosophy, psychology, history, art and religion rub shoulders with crazier content: an article on epileptic guinea pigs or the anatomy of a four-legged chicken paws, novels and travel stories... Although half of the works are in English, it is not uncommon to find documents in German, French, Italian, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish or Latin.
We can read in this incredible virtual library the interest that the researcher had in the work of his peers, and his insatiable curiosity.
This bibliography “
allows us to understand more than ever that he was not an isolated figure working alone, but an expert of his time drawing on the sophisticated science, studies and other knowledge of thousands of people
,” explains Dr. John van Wyhe.
Estimated at the time of Charles Darwin's succession, this literary and scientific marvel was worth 30 pounds and 12 shillings at the time, or around 2,350 euros today.