On the Origin of Species

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EXAMPLES OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE EVER WRITTEN First published in 1859, Charles Darwin's most famous work is usually considered to be the foundation of the science of evolutionary biology and introduced the theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. The book was met with enormous interest, provoking outrage and derision from many theological quarters but with far more positive reactions from the scientific community. Darwin's book remains as important and influential today as it was when it was first released.