Review of “The True Adventures of Charley Darwin,” by Carolyn Meyer

“The True Adventures of Charley Darwin,” by Carolyn Meyer is a historical fiction novel about the life of Charles Darwin, the natural scientist who wrote “On the Origin of Species” and publicized the theory of evolution.

Carolyn Meyer studied Charles Darwin’s autobiography and correspondence to give readers a fascinating look at his early life and influences.  In “The True Adventures of Charley Darwin” readers are introduced to Charles when he was a young boy.

Charles Darwin loves nature.  He can spend hours outside hunting for bird’s eggs, feathers, rocks, and insects for his collections.  But he hates the strict classical school in which his father has enrolled him.  There Charles must struggle to learn Latin and Greek, subjects that he sees no real purpose in learning.

Charles has no idea what he will do with his life.  His father wants him to follow in his footsteps and become a doctor.  But Charles isn’t interested in being a physician.  He isn’t interested in become a clergyman either.  Charles’ father is convinced that his son will grow up to be an idle man.  What he doesn’t realize is that Charley’s “foolish” pursuits outdoors will soon make him an acclaimed naturalist.

After years of study Charles finally receives his chance when he is invited at the age of twenty-two to work as a naturalist on board the HMS Beagle as it travels around the world.

Over the next five years of his life Charles will face the dangers of stormy seas, wild natives, and sickness, but through all of it his focus is unchanged.  In jungle, desert, and mountains Charles continues his search for rare plants and animals.

The five-year expedition aboard the HMS Beagle will cause Charles to think even more about nature and ultimately it will cause him to change his entire viewpoint, setting the stage for his controversial book “On the Origin of Species”.

I think that Carolyn Meyer’s book is admirable.  Finding out more about his early life and experiences gives Charles Darwin a more interesting personality in my mind.  This is definitely a fictional book, but as far as the main facts go “The True Adventures of Charley Darwin” covers the basics.

I feel that in a few places Meyer has glossed over the more interesting parts.  In addition, she ends the book right before Darwin publishes “On the Origin of Species.”  In a way this is disappointing, yet it is obvious that Meyer is not interested in portraying the Darwin that the world knows from his scientific works.  “The True Adventures of Charley Darwn” is not about Charles Darwin.  It is about Charley Darwin, the young naturalist willing to abandon the traditional careers offered to him so that he could travel around the world.

All considered “The True Adventures of Charley Darwin” is a great book.  It does a good job of showing the influences that aided Charles Darwin in the development of his scientific theories.

Books For Sale Rating:

Plot

Characters

Presentation

Overall