Alfred Russel Wallace’s contribution to the development of evolutionary theory was as central as that of Charles Darwin himself. But whereas Darwin’s name is inextricably linked to evolution, Wallace’s enormous contributions to ecology, evolution and biogeography — which in many cases surpass those of Darwin — are less well known to the general public. James Costa’s biography makes the case that this lack of public recognition is an injustice. Radical by Nature takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Wallace’s life, from his childhood in the British countryside and his developing passion for natural history and social activism to his four years collecting specimens in the Amazon and his eight-year expedition to the Malay Archipelago, all of which preceded the half-century that he lived as both a celebrated and controversial scholar in British Victorian society of the second half of the nineteenth century. To describe such a long and varied life and at the same time explain the development of Wallace’s ideas through his many experiences, Costa constantly transitions between travel, history and popular science genres. One of the main strengths of this biography is that it takes what time is needed to detail each step in Wallace’s life. So, although the style is clear and easy to follow, this book is no light read. Rather, it provides a rich and measured account of Wallace’s life and thinking.

Reseña del libro "Radical by Nature: The Revolutionary Life of Alfred Russel Wallace" escrito por James T. Costa, Pricenton University Press; 2023; 515 pp.

Peer reviewed