The attention to detail and versatility of this electronic edition of Darwin’s works make this CD of great value to both students and scholars alike. The second edition expands the textual content, improves the interface, and provides it at half the cost of the first edition. This edition, like the first, is the result of a collaborative effort of dozens of scholars. Installation is easy on each of the platforms used by the reviewer [Windows 95 and Mac]. The tutorial and help modules are informative; and the accompanying documentation is accurate.
The disc contains the text and illustrations of Darwin’s The Origin of Species (6th ed, 1872), The Descent of Man (1871), The Voyage of the Beagle (1845), The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872), The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs (1842), On the Various Contrivances by which British and Foreign Orchids are Fertilized by Insects (1862), and The Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle (1839‐1842). It also includes several shorter papers by Darwin as well as his monograph on the living and fossil Lepadidae and Balanide.
Michael T. Ghiselin’s bibliography has been updated since the first edition; and the disc includes his “Triumph of the Darwinian Method.” Many of the illustrations contained in Darwin’s works are linked to audio files of the sounds made by the species portrayed; and the disc also includes a video narrated by Sir David Attenborough, “Down House Appeal.”
These texts take full advantage of the versatility of an electronic environment while retaining much of the appearance of the 19th century original. The chapter headings appear in italics below the title of the chapter, and illustrations are embedded in the text. Scanned maps, charts and etchings all add to this ambiance. An electronic format, however, permits the reader to customize the size and arrangement of the text.
Significant people mentioned within the texts are hyperlinked to The Darwin Biographical Dictionary; and one accesses footnotes and editorial comments through hyperlinked text as well. The interface provides the reader with options for attaching annotations, placing bookmarks, and keeping an independent journal. Text can also be copied and exported in a variety of formats. Although images may appear fuzzy while viewed on the text‐page, clicking on it will bring up a full size image. The accompanying TIFF illustrations are generally of good quality.
The Darwin Chronology, compiled by Ghiselin and Barbara Pope, highlights significant events in Charles Darwin’s life and research. It places his activities within a larger context by including significant social and political events of the day. The Darwin Biographical Dictionary provides brief biographical information about the people mentioned in Darwin’s texts and the chronology mentioned above.
The search engine permits one to confine a search to particular fields and provides for proximity searching as well. Although several texts may be opened at a time, a search form only works within the active text window. One may search all texts, however, from the collection window using an abridged search engine.
The response time is somewhat sluggish when opening resources or retrieving hyperlinked text or images; and the inconsistent use of colored text is occasionally confusing or misleading. Hyperlinked text is usually indicated by blue or red text. Chapter headings and authors usually appear in colored text, although they are not linked. The table of contents, although linked to appropriate sections of the treatise, appears in a mixture of black and colored text. Similarly, the cursor generally turns to a hand icon when over linked text, images, or icons except when one is making selections from the index. The only video, “Down House Appeal,” is an appeal for funds to restore Darwin’s home. Viewing the home and grounds provides an interesting tour.
The editors are well aware of the limited scope of the material presented on this disc. The CD contains many of Darwin’s core works and claims to have significantly expanded the resources available on the second edition. There are, however, many more resources needed by more serious scholars, and of interest to a more casual reader. These would include his correspondence as well as various editions of the works included on the present disc. Toward this end, the editors extend an invitation to participate in expanding these resources for a future 3rd edition. The same invitation was made after the first edition, and elicited an international response.
The need for quality digital resources has never been greater, and their acceptance in the marketplace is supported by the capabilities of the current generation of multimedia computers. The versatility of this disc makes it a quality resource for supporting distance education, students wishing to augment assignments with digital presentations or illustrations, and the capabilities for annotating and marking the text fosters its use by more serious students of Darwin’s work. The cross‐platform compatibility and easy installation make it attractive for libraries or institutional settings supporting multiple computer platforms; and the modest price, easy installation, and user friendly interface make it a useful resource to an interested novice as well.
