The Origin of Species

The first part of this book gives the background and context in which Darwin developed his theory of natural selection. Arriving home in 1836 after five years of exploration aboard the Beagle, he is asked to explain what he learned. Thus the structure of this graphic novel is established. Through his voice, readers learn about his discoveries and observations, his correspondence with other scientists who helped him formulate his theories, as well as his personal life. The second section highlights the salient points of the original On the Origin of Species. Excerpts from it are included in almost every frame, carefully selected to illuminate the argument. They are differentiated by a gray background while dialogue bubbles and other more current scientific information appear on a white background. In the last section, Darwin looks into the future to explain important advances in the scientific world after the publication of Species, such as the acceptance of Mendelian genetics in 1900, the idea of continental drift in 1911, genetic recombination in 1931, the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, and the mapping of the human genome in 2000. Illustrations vary in size and are vital in illuminating text; animals are particularly colorful and well executed.