Abstract
Charles Darwin's publisher John Murray played an important, if often underrated, role in bringing his theories to the public. As their letters and publishing archives show they had a friendly, business like and successful relationship. This was despite fundamental scientific and religious differences between the men. In addition to publishing Darwin, Murray also published many of the critical and supportive works and reviews which Darwin's own works excited.
Keywords: Charles Darwin, John Murray, publishing archives
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References
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- 80.See comparative table of cumulative total of copies of Origin and Vestiges published in Secord, James A., Victorian Sensation: the extraordinary publication, reception, and secret authorship of Vestiges of the natural history of creation (2003) p. 526.
- 81.The compilation of exact sales numbers for Principles is complicated by the format of the different editions and varied volumes (between one and four). For a summary of his publications see Stuart A. Baldwin's ‘Charles Lyell and the extraordinary publishing history of his works’ in Geology Today, May-June, 1998, pp. 113–115.
- 82.NLS reference Ms. 42730 p. 422.
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- 88.The book sold 6,000 copies within a year and 13,000 before the end of the century.
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- 91.Letter from Darwin to Murray, 9 Feb 1862 (NLS reference Ms. 42152 ff. 114–115).
- 92.Freeman R B Charles Darwin: A companion (1978) p. 86.
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