Posted on Thursday 15 March 2007
The diaries of the wife of the eminent English naturalist, Charles Darwin, have been published online.
Emma Darwin’s 60 notebooks, which cover six decades of the couple’s life together and provide a personal insight into the great figure, were previously known to only a handful of Cambridge scholars. The fragile state of the diaries has meant that until now academics could only access microfiche copies.
"These books were found in a cardboard box in an old cupboard about 20 years ago," said the director of Darwin Online, Dr John van Wyhe. "People weren't really interested in the day-to-day Darwin then, just the Origin of Species."
The diaries note appointments, family visits and illnesses and reveal how the Darwin’s entertained visiting scientists - with guests sometimes numbering 10 or 15.
"Emma's diary is really special, really exciting," said Van Wyhe, "because it's daily coverage, right up close, for such a long time."
"Again and again the editions of (Charles Darwin's) letters are citing these diaries because they fill in the gaps. They tell us where Darwin was, who he saw and how he was."