Emma Darwin: A Victorian Life

"A sensitive, intelligent portrait of Emma Darwin and her life at the centre of Victorian science." ---Emma Darwin, author of A Secret Alchemy

"Succeeds brilliantly in discovering the poignant story of Emma Darwin and describing the extraordinary house-hold over which she presided."---Keith Thomson, author of The Young Charles Darwin

"Emma Darwin emerges in this well-researched and thoughtful biography as a figure of calm strength, whose very nature and story help make possible Charles Darwin's revolutionary work. The Darwin marriage emerges as a remarkable portrait of `symmetrical and unconditional love.'"---Kay Young, University of California, Santa Barbara

"Quoting extensively from family letters, Loy and Loy showcase Emma's discomfort with Darwin's dwindling faith; her willingness to help Charles read proofs of On the Origin of Species even though it ran counter to her convictions; her ability to endure multiple pregnancies and deaths as well as her beloved Darwin's ill health; her wit and intelligence. In their careful attention to the intricacies of Emma Darwin's Victorian life, she emerges as a spiritual bedrock for her husband and family---a true angel in the house."---Catherine J. Golden, author of Posting It: The Victorian Revolution in Letter Writing

In 1808, Josiah Wedgwood II, owner and general manager of the famous pottery and china manufactory that bore his name, welcomed an eighth child into his large, vibrant family. This daughter, Emma, had a relatively happy childhood and grew up intelligent, educated, and religious. A talented sportswoman and an accomplished pianist, she married her cousin Charles Darwin at the age of thirty, bore ten children in their forty-three years together, and patiently nursed her famous husband through mysterious and chronic illnesses.

Informed by her strong Christian faith as well as her quick, inquiring mind, Emma learned to coexist with her husband's radical scientific theories, though she recognized that they were contrary to Scripture and worried about the fate of Charles's soul. Although the high spirits of her youth were somewhat dampened by the cares of life, she managed family and household affairs--- including the difficult circumstances surrounding illnesses, conflict, and the deaths of three children---with courage, gravity, and a sense of humor.

In this charming volume, the wife, companion, and confidante of the father of evolution comes into full focus. Drawing upon Emma's personal correspondence as well as the abundant literature about her husband, authors James Loy and Kent Loy peel back the layers to reveal the fascinating story of an exceptional woman who remained true to herself despite difficulty and who, in the process, humanized her work-obsessed husband and held her family together.

James D. Loy is professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Rhode Island. Kent M. Loy is a freelance writer.