Charles and Emma

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith
By Deborah Heiligman
Henry Holt and Co., 2009. 268 pgs. Biography

Charles Darwin didn’t know if he should marry or not; he enjoyed his time and wasn’t sure if he could compromise it with a wife. So he did what any budding scientist might do—he made a list of the pros and cons of marrying. He finally decided that the answer was “Marry—Marry—Marry Q.E.D.” Charles soon found a woman who would be a good wife and companion, his first cousin Emma, but he worried because she was religious. By this time, he had already sailed around the world and had begun to believe in natural selection and less in God’s creation. Even though his father told him to keep it a secret, Charles shared with Emma his beliefs after they agreed to marry. Although concerned that he would end up in hell and she would be in heaven when they died, Emma did marry him.

This charming biography chronicles their married life and how they reconciled their very different opinions. It was not easy to do, as they had a few children who passed away, but the loving pair managed to create a wonderful life together. Heiligman does a great job of detailing their lives and how much they loved each other.

MN