Darwin began studying medicine at the tender age of 16, even though he couldn't stand the sight of blood. With details like these, Thomson takes a peek into the life of Charles Darwin as a young boy through to his late twenties on board the famed HMS Beagle.

Thomson manages to bring to life the man behind the hugely successful theory, which usually clouds our perception of him.

The accounts of Darwin's days following the seminal around-the-world voyage are brief, but the descriptive accounts of his early life leave little to the imagination. Through a careful analysis of Darwin's autobiography and other scientific notebooks, readers are given the rare opportunity to explore the ideas, successes, failures, family life and experiences of this scientific genius.

An easy and entertaining read, and an important read for Darwin enthusiasts wanting to learn more about the making of the father of evolution.