A review by anneofgreenplaces
Darwin: A Life in Poems by Ruth Padel

4.0

Lyrical and interesting, a thoroughly enjoyable overview of both the personal and professional arcs of Darwin's life and settings. As some other reviews have said, the poems sometimes felt a bit forced or humdrum as poems, especially those made up almost entirely of quotes from letters and diaries, but Darwin was an eloquent writer himself so it didn't bother me too much. And other poems really sing. Overall I would say it works as both a biography and a poetry collection, with a dash of science communication. The kind of thing I aspire to write, actually.