A rough guide to evolution (From Malvern Gazette)

A rough guide to evolution

4:39pm Monday 11th May 2009 in Search

IN the year that marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, an academic who lives in Malvern has published a new book about evolution.

The Rough Guide to Evolution, by Mark Pallen, who is the professor of microbial genomics at Birmingham University, aims to give a clear introduction to one of the most influential ideas in the history of science.

The book gives an overview of Darwin's life and work, of evolution and how it works and on the impact the idea has had on science, politics, religion, philosophy and the arts It also lists places that were important in Darwin's own life, including Great Malvern, where he came to undergo the water cure, and where his daughter Annie died, aged ten, and was buried in the churchyard of Great Malvern Priory.

Professor Pallen came to Malvern when he took up the post in Birmingham in 2001. "We didn't want to live in the big city, so we followed the railway line, and when we got to Malvern, we were just amazed how beautiful it was," he said.

He wasn't very aware of Malvern's Darwin connections at the time, which makes it more remarkable that his family ended up living in Lodge Drive, which was built in the grounds of Lodge House, now Hill House, where Darwin stayed on one of his visits.

"It does seem a bit odd, as if I'm some kind of obsessive, but it's a complete coincidence," he said. "It's just that it was one of only three suitable houses that was on the market at that time."

The Rough Guide to Evolution is published by Rough Guides, priced £10.99.