Publications

You may be aware that Charles Darwin actually based his theories of evolution on his grandfather's views propounded in The Temple of Nature and printed before Charles was actually born?

The Erasmus Darwin Foundation is pleased to announce the release of a limited edition copy of the Temple of Nature or The Origin of Society written by Erasmus Darwin and originally published 200 years ago in April 1803.

Erasmus Darwin originally expressed his evolutionary ideas many years before but they were vilified by the Church and it was only after his death in 1802 that The Temple of Nature aka The Origin of Society was finally published, 56 years ahead of his famous grandson, Charles' version entitled "Origin of the Species".

Erasmus Darwin exhibits In the Temple of Nature and in his other publications, an imagination in which science and poetry exist in perfect symbiosis and for which he was renowned as one of the leading poets in the 18th C.

Each book is numbered and is available from Erasmus Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield WS13 7AD, enquiries@erasmusdarwin.org and by telephone 01543-306260 for £25.00 + P&P.

Limited to 250 copies

This limited edition of The Temple of Nature has been produced to commemorate the 200th anniversary of its original publication in 1803. It is an important work both in terms of its symbiosis of poetry and science and as the product of a powerful literary imagination. This is a rare opportunity to buy The Temple of Nature in its full form. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Erasmus Darwin Foundation which was set up in 1994 and granted charitable status to promote the life and work of one of the greatest polymaths of the 18th century.

Erasmus Darwin House in Lichfield was his home for 25 years and is now open to the public. For information contact Erasmus Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire. Telephone 01543-306260.





In December 2006 Cambridge University Press published another book from Darwin enthusiast Desmond King-Hele. The book, entitled The Collected Letters of Erasmus Darwin, gives a fascinating insight to the genius of this great polymath. It contains 460 letters - over half of which have never been published before - about numerous subjects and to people such as his fellow 'Lunar' friends Matthew Boulton, James Watt and Josiah Wedgwood.

Stuart Harris

Editor of the 2002 edition of Erasmus Darwin's three epic poems under the general title Cosmologia. (ISBN 0-9542151-0-9)

Author of a critical study of the poems entitled Erasmus Darwin's Enlightenment Epic (2002) (ISBN 0-9542151-1-7)


Darwin House Drawings

These drawings below, are by a local artist - Steve Machin and are available for sale at our own bookstall as well as from the Staffs Bookshop in Dam Street. Click on any of the images for an enlarged view.

Darwin and Garden	Darwin and Cathedral	Four Gardens and Cathedral	Four Gardens

These pictures have been provided with the help of the Staffs Bookshop, 4 - 6 Dam Street, which you can visit from their logo on the right.
Water Colour Cards and Notelets

Cathedral 1 by M Hammond	Cathedral 2 by M Hammond	Erasmus Darwin House by M Hammond	Erasmus Darwin House by M Hammond	The Close by M Hammond
Erasmus Darwin House by Rev PJM Bright

Ordering

To order these or to see other publications that we have available click [  HERE ] for the printable order form, listing each together with prices.