THE ENDLESS UNFOLDING OF LIFE

I just spent sometime reading the sad but inspiring story of the death of Charles Darwin’s 10-year-old daughter, Annie.

Historian Deborah Heiligman wrote—

‘Annie's death changed things between Charles and (his wife) Emma. Darwin became more willing to proclaim his theories — and his religious doubts. And Emma, while still keeping her religious faith, turned toward Darwin, not away from him.

"I almost feel like the death of Annie was so much the worst thing that could happen to them, and they survived it, that it was almost like anything else paled in comparison."

In November of 1859, Darwin finally published his book that would change the world, ‘On the Origin of Species.’ It is generally acknowledged that the death of Annie was a defining influence in the shaping of that book.

Darwin’s biographer Lyanda Haupt says—

"He knew so deeply and so personally and viscerally what death was now after Annie's loss," Haupt says. ‘Yet, you see (in his writing) Darwin affirming over and over this circle, the endless unfolding of life.” Such a wonderful, inspiring idea. Love, Susie x