Do You like book The Darwin Conspiracy (2006)?
To say Charles Darwin was controversial in his day is an understatement, but although close to two hundred years have passed, he's scarcely less controversial in our own day. There are many mysteries surrounding the way he conducted his life: he did not publish his theory for nearly twenty years, after his famous voyage, his health and nerves were poor, and he rarely traveled again. John Darnton has constructed a novel around these factors, with an eye toward explaining what could have caused Darwin's odd behaviors. He builds his tale around the efforts of Hugh and Beth, two present-day scholars who independently decide to look into these questions and end up collaborating. And find an explanation they do, but not without a landslide of happy coincidences that pour enlightening new evidence into their laps. The author seems to have done his homework, and his premises are reasonably credible in themselves. With respect to characters, Darnton's portrayal of Darwin's daughter Lizzie is colorful, but most of the others, including Darwin himself, fall a bit flat. Still, the mystery of what really happened to Darwin on the voyage of the Beagle is more than strong enough to keep those pages turning.
—Linda
Darnton has done it again, presenting a great novel, full of scientific history and challenging the mainstream view. While past bookshave tackled medical and anthropological phenomena, the author pulls out all the stops and challenges the foundation of Darwin’s evolutionary discoveries. He also posits some theories as to why it took so long to present his findings to the public, and some biographical nuggets. Told in a three person narrative, the story flips from the present, to Darwin’s own journals, to letters written by Darwin’s daughter, the story progresses and weaves itself all together. Darnton does not simply cut and paste the known information, nor does he sit on his hands and let history present the story. While not scandalous, anyone with a great interest in reading some possible alternate history may enjoy this book.Darnton has a knack for excellent writing and thoroughly challenges the foundations of the mainstream. The reader, at least one who is open to fact and fiction’s love-child, will thoroughly enjoy these open-ended ideas and might rush out to check on some of the key facts presented here. Could Darwin really be a fiery man rather than a calm gentleman presented to the world? What about his theories… could they really be his or is it possible he only co-authored them? Darnton plants these seeds and many more… all for the reader’s pleasure.Kudos, Mr. Darnton. Excellent work! I am sure to push this book onto others, who like the entertainment and historical value.
—Matt
I enjoyed this book in three voices, but found two more consistently engaging than the third. The modern day couple investigating the mystery in Darwin's past were well-handled and believable, although the two story threads were occasionally working at cross-purposes. The diary segments from Lizzie Darwin were great and made for interesting and at times suspenseful reading. But the third voice, that of Darwin himself during his voyage on the Beagle, I found dull and repetitive and not very engrossing at all. It was inconsistencies like this that prevented a higher rating from me. But the material overall was interesting. I am now confused as to how much of it was made up and how much was factual. Which leaves me with a research project of my own, which is also a bit frustrating. But at least I care enough to investigate further. That has to say something.
—Mark Victor Young
