Deborah Heiligman. Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith
Henry Holt and Company, 2009
YA, Biography, Printz
Summary
I love the cover of this book. The black silhouettes of are very appealing to me and perfect for a historical biography. The woman is holding a cross and an upright ape is behind the man. It illustrates perfectly what values each person holds.
This book is first and foremost a biography about Charles Darwin but it tells the story of his marriage to Emma. Their love and understanding of one another drove the biography forward because they were not of one mind on two very important issues, religion and science. Emma was a devoted to her faith and Charles’ beliefs caused her pain. But they challenged one another to think about science and life from different perspectives.
Charles Darwin was sickly all of his life, and the thought that he was not going to be able to go to heaven pained Emma a great deal. Her love for him was strong enough to remain loyal and true despite her misgivings about his afterlife. Charles always listened to Emma’s ideas and considered them carefully. Mutual respect for each other was a strong foundation in their marriage and the ability to rely on one another helped them through the hard times, including the deaths of some of their children and the publication of the theory of evolution.
Reaction
I enjoyed the give and take between Charles and Emma. As a person who has struggled with the issue of faith vs. science I can appreciate the arguments found in this novel. I also think that it treats each side with respect and that it is a good example for teenagers to be reading. Above all, Charles and Emma respected each other’s opinions. They shared, argued, debated and generally tried to convince each other that they were right and the other was wrong but were always able to come together in love afterwards. Charles and Emma knew how to debate without letting anger and fear drive them apart. It is an important example for young and old alike.
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