Deborah Charlesworth

too long. It generates a cascade of subtle errors that ultimately accumulate to a distorted picture of the man and his science and indeed early Victorian scientific communities. A varied and overwhelming array of evidence demonstrates that Darwin did not avoid publishing his theory for 20 years.” The only evidence that has ever been put forward for Darwin’s delay is circumstantial or ambiguous passages, argues Wyhe, “It is curious that so many groundless and dubious theories have been put forward,” he believes. “The myth of Darwin’s delay has remained unquestioned for far Determined: The long gestation of Darwin’s theory of evolution was a result of his wish to gather evidence and not fear of its reception, argues a new essay. (Photo: gettyimages/archive). Q & A