Charles Darwin revolutionized our understanding of life on Earth and our place within it. His theory of evolution by natural selection--controversial at the time--has remained the foundation of the life sciences for more than 150 years. This volume, featuring remarkable images, reveals the scientist's life in compelling detail, including his expedition aboard the Beagle and research on the Galapagos Islands. This beneficial book stands apart from other biographies for its inclusion of rare archival material as well as its accessible text, which explains how Darwin crafted his theory and his importance to the scientific world then and now.