The Evolutionist at Large

audiobook

The Evolutionist at Large

by Grant Allen

EN·~4 hours·24 chapters

Chapters

24 total
1

PREFACE.

3:21
2

A BALLADE OF EVOLUTION.

1:09
3

I. MICROSCOPIC BRAINS.

12:38
4

II. A WAYSIDE BERRY.

8:36
5

III. IN SUMMER FIELDS.

10:28
6

IV. A SPRIG OF WATER CROWFOOT.

11:11
7

V. SLUGS AND SNAILS.

10:36
8

VI. A STUDY OF BONES.

7:50
9

VII. BLUE MUD.

10:05
10

VIII. CUCKOO-PINT.

10:07

Description

A charming collection of short essays invites listeners into the world of evolution without demanding a scientific background. Written originally for a daily newspaper, the author uses everyday wonders—a strawberry, a snail’s shell, a hummingbird’s feather—to illustrate how natural selection shapes the forms we see. Each piece strips away technical jargon, offering clear, vivid analogies that make the grand story of life's change both understandable and engaging.

The opening essay finds the narrator perched on a boulder, observing a line of industrious ants hauling a fallen earthworm. Through this simple scene, the writer reveals how even the tiniest creatures embody the principles of adaptation and cooperation, turning ordinary meadow life into a window on deep biological truths. Sprinkled with a whimsical ballad on evolution’s march, the work balances factual insight with a light, personable voice, perfect for curious listeners eager to glimpse the science behind nature’s most striking features.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~4 hours (279K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Dianna Adair and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Release date

2014-02-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Grant Allen

Grant Allen

1848–1899

A prolific late-Victorian writer, he moved easily between popular science, social debate, mystery, and adventure fiction. His books often pair lively storytelling with big ideas about evolution, belief, and modern life.

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