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The Heretic in Darwin’s Court: The Life of Alfred Russel Wallace
During their lifetimes, Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin shared credit and fame for the independent and near-simultaneous discovery of natural selection. Together, the two men spearheaded one of the greatest intellectual revolutions in modern history, and their rivalry, usually amicable but occasionally acrimonious, forged modern evolutionary theory. Yet today, few people today know much about Wallace.
The Heretic in Darwin's Court explores the controversial life and scientific contributions of Alfred Russel Wallace―Victorian traveler, scientist, spiritualist, and co-discoverer with Charles Darwin of natural selection. After examining his early years, the biography turns to Wallace's twelve years of often harrowing travels in the western and eastern tropics, which place him in the pantheon of the greatest explorer-naturalists of the nineteenth century. Tracing step-by-step his discovery of natural selection―a piece of scientific detective work as revolutionary in its implications as the discovery of the structure of DNA―the book then follows the remaining fifty years of Wallace's eccentric and entertaining life. In addition to his divergence from Darwin on two fundamental issues―sexual selection and the origin of the human mind―he pursued topics that most scientific figures of his day conspicuously avoided, including spiritualism, phrenology, mesmerism, environmentalism, and life on Mars.
Although there may be disagreement about his conclusions, Wallace's intellectual investigations into the origins of life, consciousness, and the universe itself remain some of the most inspired scientific accomplishments in history. This authoritative biography casts new light on the life and work of Alfred Russel Wallace and the importance of his twenty-five-year relationship with Charles Darwin.
The Heretic in Darwin's Court explores the controversial life and scientific contributions of Alfred Russel Wallace―Victorian traveler, scientist, spiritualist, and co-discoverer with Charles Darwin of natural selection. After examining his early years, the biography turns to Wallace's twelve years of often harrowing travels in the western and eastern tropics, which place him in the pantheon of the greatest explorer-naturalists of the nineteenth century. Tracing step-by-step his discovery of natural selection―a piece of scientific detective work as revolutionary in its implications as the discovery of the structure of DNA―the book then follows the remaining fifty years of Wallace's eccentric and entertaining life. In addition to his divergence from Darwin on two fundamental issues―sexual selection and the origin of the human mind―he pursued topics that most scientific figures of his day conspicuously avoided, including spiritualism, phrenology, mesmerism, environmentalism, and life on Mars.
Although there may be disagreement about his conclusions, Wallace's intellectual investigations into the origins of life, consciousness, and the universe itself remain some of the most inspired scientific accomplishments in history. This authoritative biography casts new light on the life and work of Alfred Russel Wallace and the importance of his twenty-five-year relationship with Charles Darwin.
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First published June 23, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 6, 2021
Well-written, detailed account of Wallace's life and work.
Alfred Russel Wallace, was 15 years younger than Darwin, had no formal education, resources, or connections. He was a railway surveyor by trade. But he was also a voracious reader. He educated himself during evenings at public libraries. He would prove to be a classic eccentric Victorian genius in his work.
Wallace traveled into the Amazon with a partner and collected all sorts of specimens and filling innumerable notebooks with data and his observations for four years, only to see his treasure trove sink to the bottom of the ocean on the ship he was to take back to Britain.
After a year in England, Wallace traveled to the Malay Peninsula, an empire of islands, now known as Indonesia, where he would spend eight years collecting specimens.
It would take a fit of malarial fever during this time for Wallace to experience an epiphany re: the process of natural selection. (Although Wallace did not call it that).
One day, Darwin would receive a manuscript in the mail from Wallace laying out this theory. Darwin was not familiar with Wallace, but Wallace knew Darwin’s reputation, which is why he sent him his paper. He did not know Darwin had been working on his theory all these years, including the last eight years on barnacles alone. Darwin was horrified. Botanist Joseph Hooker who, along with geologist Charles Lyell, had been urging Darwin to publish sooner, devised a plan for the theory to be announced as a joint discovery of both Darwin and Wallace.
After Wallace's return to England from the Malay Peninsula, his life did not go well. He had a hard time finding gainful employment and struggled with poverty. I think this desperation may have driven him to Spiritualism. He crossed a kind of ideological Rubicon when he published an article titled "A Defense of Modern Spiritualism," at age 51. After that, there was no turning back. He became an increasingly strident defender of Spiritualism.
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Why Did So Many Victorians Try to Speak with the Dead?
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
Alfred Russel Wallace, was 15 years younger than Darwin, had no formal education, resources, or connections. He was a railway surveyor by trade. But he was also a voracious reader. He educated himself during evenings at public libraries. He would prove to be a classic eccentric Victorian genius in his work.
Wallace traveled into the Amazon with a partner and collected all sorts of specimens and filling innumerable notebooks with data and his observations for four years, only to see his treasure trove sink to the bottom of the ocean on the ship he was to take back to Britain.
After a year in England, Wallace traveled to the Malay Peninsula, an empire of islands, now known as Indonesia, where he would spend eight years collecting specimens.
It would take a fit of malarial fever during this time for Wallace to experience an epiphany re: the process of natural selection. (Although Wallace did not call it that).
One day, Darwin would receive a manuscript in the mail from Wallace laying out this theory. Darwin was not familiar with Wallace, but Wallace knew Darwin’s reputation, which is why he sent him his paper. He did not know Darwin had been working on his theory all these years, including the last eight years on barnacles alone. Darwin was horrified. Botanist Joseph Hooker who, along with geologist Charles Lyell, had been urging Darwin to publish sooner, devised a plan for the theory to be announced as a joint discovery of both Darwin and Wallace.
After Wallace's return to England from the Malay Peninsula, his life did not go well. He had a hard time finding gainful employment and struggled with poverty. I think this desperation may have driven him to Spiritualism. He crossed a kind of ideological Rubicon when he published an article titled "A Defense of Modern Spiritualism," at age 51. After that, there was no turning back. He became an increasingly strident defender of Spiritualism.
=============
Why Did So Many Victorians Try to Speak with the Dead?
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
April 13, 2012
Right from the beginning you know you are in for a treat because the author writes so smoothly and vividly that you almost don't care what he's saying, but the story is fascinating as well.
After weaving through the tumultuous events that shaped young Wallace's life, we find ourselves on a great journey to Brazil to collect specimens. The conditions that he faced, the people he met, and the places he visited were all interesting and in many cases horrifying. The conclusion of this adventure is so incredible that if it were fiction the author would be accused of going over the top.
Then we come to the amazing coincidence in time of the introduction to the world of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection by two men, not only of vastly different class and education, but also of physical separation—Darwin in England—Wallace in Malaysia, and method—Darwin experimenting in his lab for years, Wallace collecting specimens in island jungles and arriving at the theory in a burst of sudden inspiration.
But was Darwin stymied and only able to complete his theory when he received a manuscript from Wallace, in other words, did Darwin steal from Wallace? The author clearly states the arguments on both sides and I believe comes to a reasonable conclusion. The exchange of correspondence between Wallace and Darwin during this critical time (and throughout their lives) is amazing and speaks well of the integrity, honesty and humility of both. That two such men could elaborate a virtually identical theory independently only adds to its strength. Once Darwin published the Origin of Species, Wallace stepped aside, gave all credit to Darwin and went on to pursue other interests, most notably his discovery of an invisible line that separates diverse groups of fauna in Malaysia and New Guinea-Australia, the so-called Wallace Line, although he continued to defend natural selection whenever it was attacked.
In the second half of the book (and Wallace's life) he suddenly veers off the path of his illustrious career in zoology, entomology and biogeography into the bizarre world of spiritualism with its seances and mediums, somewhat tarnishing his reputation as a serious scientist. It seemed to me that Wallace became impatient when science could not answer all the big questions, such as the orgin and fate of human consciousness, and so he substituted his own answers without the benefit of the rigorous scientific method that he, and particularly Darwin, would normally have applied.
Given all the illnesses that plagued him during his tropical excursions and throughout the rest of his life, it is astounding that he not only lived to the age of ninety, but that he remained as engaged in his correspondence and studies as he had always been right up until the day of his passing.
All in all an amazing book about an amazing man. In his day they referred to it as the Darwin-Wallace Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. It would be fitting if that title were resurrected.
After weaving through the tumultuous events that shaped young Wallace's life, we find ourselves on a great journey to Brazil to collect specimens. The conditions that he faced, the people he met, and the places he visited were all interesting and in many cases horrifying. The conclusion of this adventure is so incredible that if it were fiction the author would be accused of going over the top.
Then we come to the amazing coincidence in time of the introduction to the world of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection by two men, not only of vastly different class and education, but also of physical separation—Darwin in England—Wallace in Malaysia, and method—Darwin experimenting in his lab for years, Wallace collecting specimens in island jungles and arriving at the theory in a burst of sudden inspiration.
But was Darwin stymied and only able to complete his theory when he received a manuscript from Wallace, in other words, did Darwin steal from Wallace? The author clearly states the arguments on both sides and I believe comes to a reasonable conclusion. The exchange of correspondence between Wallace and Darwin during this critical time (and throughout their lives) is amazing and speaks well of the integrity, honesty and humility of both. That two such men could elaborate a virtually identical theory independently only adds to its strength. Once Darwin published the Origin of Species, Wallace stepped aside, gave all credit to Darwin and went on to pursue other interests, most notably his discovery of an invisible line that separates diverse groups of fauna in Malaysia and New Guinea-Australia, the so-called Wallace Line, although he continued to defend natural selection whenever it was attacked.
In the second half of the book (and Wallace's life) he suddenly veers off the path of his illustrious career in zoology, entomology and biogeography into the bizarre world of spiritualism with its seances and mediums, somewhat tarnishing his reputation as a serious scientist. It seemed to me that Wallace became impatient when science could not answer all the big questions, such as the orgin and fate of human consciousness, and so he substituted his own answers without the benefit of the rigorous scientific method that he, and particularly Darwin, would normally have applied.
Given all the illnesses that plagued him during his tropical excursions and throughout the rest of his life, it is astounding that he not only lived to the age of ninety, but that he remained as engaged in his correspondence and studies as he had always been right up until the day of his passing.
All in all an amazing book about an amazing man. In his day they referred to it as the Darwin-Wallace Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. It would be fitting if that title were resurrected.
January 28, 2020
Foi muito bom ter conhecido mais um pouco sobre o Wallace. A leitura flui bastante e o autor trata dos assuntos como eles aconteceram, sem alterar ou defender o personagem tema do livro de suas excentricidades. O tempo inteiro pareceu que acompanhei a vida inteira lado a lado do Wallace, desde a descoberta da sua paixão com seu primeiro livro, as influências bibliográficas que foram determinantes em sua vida. Suas excursões ainda mais vívidas.
Consegui sentir as dificuldades de se desbravar uma terra sem lei como a Amazônia na época de sua chegada ao Brasil. Acompanhei de perto, como que de lado a lado, os perigos das florestas densas e os rios turbulentos e chuvas pertinentes e o abandono dos acompanhantes no meio da trilha que o Wallace passou, mas mesmo assim, sempre energético e determinado. Suas viagens para o Arquipélago Malaio deram vontade de estar abrindo as trilhas em meio as densas florestas ajudando o Wallace e Ali a contabilizar os espécimes logo após em sua cabana, enquanto ouviria dele sobre as novas descobertas e observações dos espécimes coletados.
Excêntrico, a maior parte de sua vida foi dirigida pelo ocultismo e espiritismo, e muitas vezes confundido como a favor do movimentoanti vacina, o que ele defendia eram as causas humanitárias por trás do direito do governo achar que poderia impor os piores punimentos de quem não tinha acesso as vacinas que eram caríssimas na época. Ao meu ver, muitas de suas causas não entendidas quando viveu, nada mais foram do que uma ansiedade sobre o que sua época não podia atingir.
Wallace sempre será uma inspiração de uma necessidade de sabedoria insaciável e liberdade de expressão e luta pelas pequenas causas da humanidade.
Consegui sentir as dificuldades de se desbravar uma terra sem lei como a Amazônia na época de sua chegada ao Brasil. Acompanhei de perto, como que de lado a lado, os perigos das florestas densas e os rios turbulentos e chuvas pertinentes e o abandono dos acompanhantes no meio da trilha que o Wallace passou, mas mesmo assim, sempre energético e determinado. Suas viagens para o Arquipélago Malaio deram vontade de estar abrindo as trilhas em meio as densas florestas ajudando o Wallace e Ali a contabilizar os espécimes logo após em sua cabana, enquanto ouviria dele sobre as novas descobertas e observações dos espécimes coletados.
Excêntrico, a maior parte de sua vida foi dirigida pelo ocultismo e espiritismo, e muitas vezes confundido como a favor do movimentoanti vacina, o que ele defendia eram as causas humanitárias por trás do direito do governo achar que poderia impor os piores punimentos de quem não tinha acesso as vacinas que eram caríssimas na época. Ao meu ver, muitas de suas causas não entendidas quando viveu, nada mais foram do que uma ansiedade sobre o que sua época não podia atingir.
Wallace sempre será uma inspiração de uma necessidade de sabedoria insaciável e liberdade de expressão e luta pelas pequenas causas da humanidade.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2020
A good review of Wallace’s life. I don’t think a thinker like Wallace could exist today. There aren’t many low hanging scientific fruits to be grasped by a self -educated man of limited means and without funding for sophisticated scientific apperati. Wallace would’ve been miserable working as a professor in a modern university with its funding squabbles and death match for tenure. He was one of the last self -directed scientists. Like the author alludes to, a man like Wallace who was a sponge and sharer of any knowledge he could get his hands on and was always optimistic for the betterment of man and society would not be a good fit for today’s cynical world.
May 3, 2012
A highly accessible treatment of one of science's most enigmatic figures.
Well-researched without being dry, Slotten's biography excels because he writes well and never loses sight of the big picture. He often fits Wallace's endeavours in with his family background, the social and political culture of the time, and the turmoil engulfing the sciences in 19th century England as they threatened to dislodge religious doctrine.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Well-researched without being dry, Slotten's biography excels because he writes well and never loses sight of the big picture. He often fits Wallace's endeavours in with his family background, the social and political culture of the time, and the turmoil engulfing the sciences in 19th century England as they threatened to dislodge religious doctrine.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 10, 2012
I had read about Wallace's expedition through Indonesia and found the story fascinating, so I was really eager to read this book. And I was not disappointed. His life was amazing, even the part about his obsession with spiritualism. The book explains really well what was going on between Darwin and Wallace and their differing points of view on the origin of species.
January 14, 2008
OK, this guy sends Darwin a little treatise about natural selection from the Malay jungle three years before Darwin publishes his own famous paper. It's never made clear whether or not Darwin stole the idea from Wallace, but this is a really fascinating book about an incredibly fascinating man.
May 15, 2019
Aku menikmati dua bab awal buku ini. Sangat menyenangkan dan mengalir. Dalam bab-bab awal, aku menyukai. Bab selanjutnya aku belum tahu. Aku yakin pasti juga akan menarik.
Biografi Wallace itu jarang dan ini salah satu yang aku suka.
Biografi Wallace itu jarang dan ini salah satu yang aku suka.
July 8, 2021
Really good book, but I just don’t have time to finish it right now. I got to the end of Wallace’s time in the Malay Archipelago and figured that would be the end of the really interesting stuff anyway.
March 18, 2015
Alfred Russell Wallace--the co-discoverer of the principle of evolution by variation and natural selection--is a very interesting character, more interesting than Charles Darwin is some ways. Wallace spent many more years than Darwin studying plants and animals and people in remote places in South America and Indonesia. He also traveled and made observations in Europe and America. Wallace lived a longer, healthier, more energetic life than Darwin, and he had more varied interests. Wallace advocated land reform and better public education. Surprisingly, Wallace was a Spiritualist, and thought that vaccination against disease was a fraud. Throughout his life Wallace wrote and lectured on both evolution and his other beliefs. He continued to defend evolution by natural selection, but unlike Darwin, he thought that some higher power nudged the process, particularly in the case of human evolution. Wallace also disagreed with Darwin on some other issues, such as sexual selection. Wallace's advocacy for spiritualism and against vaccination hurt his reputation among scientists. But by the time he died in 1913 at the age of 90 he was regarded as a great man and a national treasure of Britain, praised for his contributions to science despite his odd beliefs. This is a well-written book, highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of science in general, and evolution in particular.
May 21, 2016
it was interesting to learn about somebody forgotten in popular history. Before i read this book book i was of the impression that wallace was just another eccentric self made man. But Slotten illustrates the complexities of the man. He is fair in his treatment of Wallaces interest in spiritualism. He shows that his fascination with spiritualism was a pivot in his thinking about evolution and particularly the development of the mind. I'm actually inclined to think wallace was right and the human mind can't be explained as easily a scientists then and now think. Also the book at times read like an adventure book. It takes talent to bring read life people alive on the page as well. Other than that it was a good read and i'd recommend it all and sundry
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2025
I loved this book for the detail and the sympathetic portrayal of Wallace. I don’t remember when I read it but it is a rare book that stuck with me all these years.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews