蜜芽传媒

Charles Darwin was a true Victorian explorer and one of the biggest names in science.

His great-great-granddaughter is Ruth Padel.

The writer and poet is on a deeply personal journey to investigate the qualities of her ancestor and the man behind the scientist.

She explores the way in which Darwin became a writer and was able to turn scientific theory into readable prose.

Ruth looks at the works he read in his early life which shaped his literary imagination and investigates how his writings on the "Beagle" voyage marked the beginning of his career as an author.

Ruth also investigates the continuing power of his books and asks how novelists coming after him were affected by his work.

Among Ruth's interviewees are:

* Darwin scholar, Gillian Beer
* Geologist, Richard Fortey
* Writer and fellow Darwin descendant, Randal Keynes
* Former Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries

Producer: Emma Kingsley

First broadcast on 蜜芽传媒 Radio 4 in February 2009.

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