Charles and Emma: The Darwin's Leap of Faith

Available instantly

Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Hardcover
$14.95

Paperback
$10.50

Your audiobook is waiting!

Click above for unlimited listening to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts.
One credit a month to pick any title from our entire premium selection — yours to keep (you'll use your first credit now).
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel online anytime.

Learn more about membership

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

List Price: $15.75

By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible’s Conditions Of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice.

Sold and delivered by Audible, an Amazon company

Charles and Emma: The Darwin's Leap of Faith Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Deborah Heiligman (Author), Rosalyn Landor (Narrator), Listening Library (Publisher)

139

See all formats and editions

Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, his revolutionary tract on evolution and the fundamental ideas involved, in 1859. Nearly 150 years later, the theory of evolution continues to create tension between the scientific and religious communities. Challenges about teaching the theory of evolution in schools occur annually all over the country. This same debate raged within Darwin himself, and played an important part in his marriage: his wife, Emma, was quite religious, and her faith gave Charles a lot to think about as he worked on a theory that continues to spark intense debates.

Deborah Heligman's new biography of Charles Darwin is a thought-provoking account of the man behind evolutionary theory: how his personal life affected his work and vice versa. The end result is an engaging exploration of history, science, and religion for young readers.

Listening Length

7 hours and 38 minutes
Author

Deborah Heiligman
Narrator

Rosalyn Landor
Audible release date

January 6, 2009
Language

English
Publisher

Listening Library
ASIN

B001P6IX6G
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
See all details

Report an issue with this product or seller

People who bought this also bought

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
Candice Millard
7,495
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Vincent & Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers
Deborah Heiligman
887
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
A Tale of Two Cities [Tantor]
Charles Dickens
32,776
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Northanger Abbey
Jane Austen
9,879
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
134,766
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

Only from Audible

Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1

Influencer
Adam Cesare
2
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Mystery of Alice
Lee Bacon
25
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
21,437
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
Unlimited Memory: How to Use Advanced Learning Strategies to Learn Faster, Remember More and Be More Productive
Kevin Horsley
11,886
in Education & Learning for Teens

Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial
The Cellar
Natasha Preston
8,647
Audible Audiobook
$0.00 Free with Audible trial

Product details

Listening Length	7 hours and 38 minutes
Author	Deborah Heiligman
Narrator	Rosalyn Landor
Audible.com Release Date	January 06, 2009
Publisher	Listening Library
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B001P6IX6G
Best Sellers Rank	#222,394 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #17 in Science & Technology for Teens (Audible Books & Originals) #49 in Teen & Young Adult History of Science #105 in Teen & Young Adult Science & Technology Biographies

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

139 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Annette Lamb

Outstanding Narrative Nonfiction

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014

Verified Purchase

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman is exceptional.

As a fan of science writing, biography, historical settings, and young adult literature, I felt like Charles and Emma was written just for me. The religious issues along with the romantic aspects brought drama to what might have otherwise been a traditional biography. The religious and romantic elements might also move some fiction readers toward nonfiction. Many adult biographies can be academic and dry, so I enjoyed the simple language, conversational style, and topical emphasis of this book written for young adults. I don't normally think of biographies as "page turners," but the story was a really "quick read."

Heiligman wove interesting primary source materials and stories into the book. I particularly enjoyed the "to marry" and "no to marry" list. I could relate to this very analytical approach. I could also connect to his obsession with "knowing everything" about a particular topic such as his species studies.

Combining the stories of Charles and Emma made the book unique. As I read the story I wondered about the impact of spouses on other scientists. I'd like to see other books taking this approach to biography.

So much of YA literature focuses on realistic fiction (teen angst and melodrama) and fantasy (vampires, werewolves, dystopia) that it's great to see a book written for nerdy teens like I was! In publisher's quest for "high profit" books, they often forget that there's a market for engaging biographies, readable nonfiction, and quality storytelling outside traditional fiction categories. This book will never get the readership of the Twilight series, but there are teens in the world that aspire to be naturalists, scientists, and scholars that are thirsty for books like this.

One sign of an exceptional book is the degree to which I think about the book later. Darwin seems to be everywhere I look. Darwin's 200th birthday was Feb 12 2010.

I've always respected Charles Darwin for the many years he spent researching and reflecting on his theories before publishing. He truly wanted to "get it right." His approach to science and the development of arguments is a great example of critical thinking.

There are some great websites devoted to his work. You can also visit Darwin's countryside on Google Earth. For a great overview with images go to http://www.darwinday.org/learn/

Want to learn more? Go to http://www.darwinday.org/

Beyond the book...

I think it's important to introduce biography and Charles Darwin to children. For younger readers, I'd suggest the beautifully illustrated picture book "One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin" by Kathryn Lasky as a great introduction to Charles Darwin.

For teens who enjoy this book, I'd recommend moving into quality adult nonfiction such as Erick Larson's The Devil in the White City, Isaac's Storm, or Thunderstruck.

I enjoy reading about naturalists from the 1500s through the 1900s. For an engaging biography that takes place in the late 1600s, read "A Pirate of Exquisite Mind: Explorer, Naturalist, and Buccaneer: The Life of William Dampier" by Diana Preston.

The biographies of Linda Lear would be a great way to introduce young adults scholars to adult literature. Read Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature or Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature.

Okay, so now you know I'm a nerd. We need more nerds in the world!

17 people found this helpful

Helpful

Dragonflies & Autumn Leaves

Lovely Book, Four and a half stars

Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2009

Verified Purchase

Picked for a book club read, not realizing it was geared toward a younger audience. Several of us really enjoyed it, though we all found the writing style very simple (just right to include the younger audience.) You get to know Darwin as "Charles", a husband and father, a human being in the context of a family; and are charmed and touched by his relationship with them. And the story of how his discoveries effected his beliefs and thus his relationships with those he loved most, keeps you enthralled, especially for people who have experienced the effects of differences in belief in their personal relationships with those they love, who have the context of the full depth of their emotions to draw from when they are only hinted at in the book. It follows the story of his relationship with Emma and family life from it's start to the ends of their lives, and his scientific work in the context of his daily life with his family. Simple and understated, drawing the picture from the historical sources, some in our book club longed for more, and it certainly could have been made more exciting as historical fiction, where you could have gotten inside their heads a bit more, but I find a beauty in the story told as simply as it was. When differences in belief so often spark contention that tears people apart, I found this a beautiful story of triumph of love for our fellow beings, in a striking place: one of the first couples to have felt the impact of the theory of evolution.

I came away with greater respect for Darwin most deeply because of this one thing: his care and respect for the feelings of those whose religious devotion was disturbed by his theories. When after his death, Emma edited out certain passages of his personal writings, which were not intended by him to go public, because she said she thought people would take them the wrong way, at first you may think she is trying to clean up what she doesn't agree with. But I get the feeling from what you learn about the two, that more likely she knew that Charles didn't like offending and hurting people, and was more likely to withhold a thought of his that might be taken as being disrespectful or in mean spirit to others who held contradictory cherished beliefs. Not that he didn't feel justified in his beliefs, but that he would take the utmost care that others would not perceive the slightest mean spirit or disrespect in his intent.

One thing that struck me was how being part of a distinctly upper class, the life Darwin led that enabled him to devote his time to his studies, was surely starkly different than the lives and constraints of those in the working and poorer classes. While this was not a theme brought out at all in the book (appropriately, as this was not the scope of the book), I couldn't help become aware of it while reading the account of what his daily life and home was like.

Seeing Darwin's studies in the context of his home life, and ordinary daily musings and observations of the things around him, can also be a great model for the young scientists among us.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Nathan Sawatzky

Highly recommended!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2019

Verified Purchase

As a Christian, I’ve always been put off by how much Christian schools, and the church in general has demonized Charles Darwin. I decided to purchase this book to add to our homeschooling. I loved this book so much, it’s a great biography that explores the thoughts, ideas, and reactions, Charles Darwin and his family would have to wrestle through. Highly recommended!

One person found this helpful

mcewin

Charles & Emma, loved & beloved

Reviewed in Canada on February 15, 2010

Verified Purchase

As a long-time Darwin scholar and University evolution prof, I spend a lot of time focussed on Darwin's scientific work: the Voyage, the slow accumulation of facts, the sketches of his theory, the breakthrough Theory of Natural Selection, and the myriad books of the Old Man of Down.

Deborah Heiligman has conceived a delightfully refreshing approach. From letters and diaries, she has constructed a highly readable story of the marriage of Charles Darwin and his wife Emma, paced by the birth of their 10 children, running in parallel with the timeline of events in Charles' day job as a leading scientist of the mid 19th century. Moving back and forth between the two stories is Emma's religious expectation of an afterlife and her concern for Charles' loss of conventional Anglican faith (neither of them being biblical literalists), especially in the aftermath of the death of their favourite daughter Annie.

The very human context of Charles' scientific career as part of the life of a devoted family man has never been presented with greater clarity. I found myself crying again over the death of Annie. The role of religion in the marriage of two very devoted lovers will echo with many.

Those lucky enough to be in the small number of cities where it has been released will want to see "Creation," a film based on the same events in this book, starring Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly.

One person found this helpful

いとみみず

心が熱くなる夫婦の本

Reviewed in Japan on December 13, 2010

Verified Purchase

ダーウィンとエマの関係に焦点を当て、結婚前後から晩年までの彼らを綴った本。著者はサイエンスライターのジョナサン・ワイナーの奥さん。脚注も充実しており内容は信頼できるだろう。ヤングアダルト向けの推薦図書となっており、学術書というほども網羅的でも高度でもないが、事実をベースに書かれているし、英文も平易で読みやすい。

心を打たれるのは、信仰について決定的な意見の相違がありながらも、互いの思いやりを持ち続けた夫妻のやりとりだ。彼らに限らず、幸福な夫婦というのは同じような優しさと思いやりを持ち続けているのだろう。彼らが特別だったというわけでもないのだろう。それでも、率直な想いを綴った手紙やメモを読むと目頭が熱くなる。邦訳が出ても良さそうな内容。垢抜けない装丁とべたべた張られたシールが興ざめだが、とても良い本。

2 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

See more reviews

Charles and Emma: The Darwin's Leap of Faith Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

People who bought this also bought

Related to this topic

Only from Audible

Product details

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries