Creator
Elizabeth Gaskell.
Title
Wives and Daughters (Volume I of Novels and Tales of Mrs. Gaskell).
Publisher
London: Smith, Elder & Co.,
Date
1880.
Description
Provenance: Margaret Keynes; presentation inscription from Charles Darwin’s wife, Emma, to their son Leonard.
In the words of Charles Darwin’s great-great-grandson, Randal Keynes, this book needed “a very good home.” Gaskell was close to the Darwins and modelled the young hero in the book after Charles. A note on the pastedown by Margaret Keynes (Darwin’s niece) reads: “This book was a great favourite of Charles Darwin’s and the last book to be read aloud to him.” The family had tenderly passed this book down, as evidenced by the presentation inscription. I am honored to be the temporary guardian of such an important family treasure.
In the words of Charles Darwin’s great-great-grandson, Randal Keynes, this book needed “a very good home.” Gaskell was close to the Darwins and modelled the young hero in the book after Charles. A note on the pastedown by Margaret Keynes (Darwin’s niece) reads: “This book was a great favourite of Charles Darwin’s and the last book to be read aloud to him.” The family had tenderly passed this book down, as evidenced by the presentation inscription. I am honored to be the temporary guardian of such an important family treasure.
Source
Garrett Herman