This volume of newly transcribed letters documents the travels of the Victorian naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in the Malay Archipelago, during which he famously discovered natural selection independently of Darwin. Vivid with detail, the letters are fully annotated and accompanied by an introduction with a newly reconstructed itinerary.
The book reassesses the impact of phrenology, particularly George Combe's influential work, arguing that it significantly shaped Victorian scientific thought before Darwin's theories. It highlights how Combe's "The Constitution of Man in Relation to External Objects" not only outsold "The Origin of Species" but also laid the groundwork for Darwin's ideas. By focusing on Combe, the book uncovers overlooked aspects of Victorian naturalism, offering a more nuanced understanding of how Victorians perceived their relationship with nature.