Darwin’s Dogs: A Darwin Biography for Dog Lovers (Book Review)

Emma Townshend’s first book presents something of a different biography of Charles Darwin. Instead of the usual scientific focus and discussion on the fine points of his theory of evolution, she provides us with a warmer, more domestic picture of the interactions of English folk and their dogs during the Victorian era. Ms. Townshend is an established writer of gardening columns and articles, maintaining a blog for the Independent on Sunday, and presumably this book is written for the gardeners and animal lovers that make up her current audience. In that light, Townshend clearly accomplishes her goal of warming up the origins of evolutionary theory for the ordinary reader. However, because of a certain sentimental tone, it leaves something to be desired as a history of science text.

The book starts with a pastoral photo of the Charles Darwin family (including dogs and children), clearly establishing a family orientation, and once underway, it's very readable. Townshend has done her research, including excerpts from the Darwin family letters as they corresponded back and forth over the years, using this as the structure to build the biography. She covers the important events of Darwin’s life, the death of his mother, his father’s concerns that he seemed unable to find a suitable profession. “To my deep mortification,” Darwin is quoted, “my father once said to me, ’You care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat-catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family’.” His father took care of this problem by providing him with an independent income, allowing Charles to follow his passions as a naturalist, and plenty of time to think about the subjects of selective breeding and the evolution of species.

The book is very sweet, but there is a serious point hidden in there. Townshend makes an excellent case for Darwin's experience with domestic animals contributing more to the development of his theory of evolution than his exotic voyage on the Beagle did. Although Darwin brought back an array of samples from the Beagle’s visit to the Galapagos, for example, he had to find some way to make the connection between selective breeding (by whatever means) and the natural occurrence of different species. Darwin interactions with local farmers and dog breeders involved in selective breeding programs at the time provided this connection. Another interesting point: although Darwin developed his theory as a young man, it took years for him to develop the courage and clout to feel he could publish it as serious challenge to established theory.

Ms. Townshend has degrees in history and history of science from Cambridge, Imperial College and London’s City University, and her postgraduate thesis provided the research about Darwin’s interactions with plant and animal breeders which appears in this book. Because of her background, one would have expected the book to be more science-oriented and academic. It’s recommended for an audience that enjoys animals and horticulture, but not so much for readers who want footnotes and heady scientific debate.

Ms. Townshend teaches courses on history of science in the U.K. She also appears regularly on radio and TV and writes for Kew Magazine, Independent on Sunday and the Times’ arts pages.

Darwin's Dogs: How Darwin's Pets Helped Form a World-changing Theory of Evolution, by Emma Townshend. (Paperback - Oct 27, 2009). Francis Lincoln, Limited, London, 140 pages. ISBN/UPC: 9780711230651, £8.99, $14.95.