On the Origin of Species outlines Charles Darwin’s world-changing theory that life on Earth had not been brought into being by a creator, but had arisen from a single common ancestor and had evolved over time through the process of natural selection. Received with both enthusiasm and hostility on its publication, it triggered a seismic shift in our understanding of humanity’s place in the natural world. It is not only a brilliant work of science but also a clear, vivid, sometimes moving piece of popular writing that reflects both Darwin’s genius and his boundless enthusiasm for our planet and its species. This beautiful Macmillan Collector’s Library edition of On the Origin of Species is complete and unabridged, and features an afterword by Oliver Francis.