Stott, Rebecca

The Coral Thief is a provocative and tantalizing mix of history, philosophy, and suspense; it conjures up vividly both the feats of Napoleon and the accomplishments of those working without fame or glory to change our ideas of who we are and the world in which we live.

Describes Darwin's eight years studying barnacles from around the world, and discusses this endeavor's influence upon "On the Origin of Species.".

Examines the mystery of why Darwin waited over twenty years between formulating his theory of natural selection and publishing it.

Cambridge historian Elizabeth Vogelsang is found dead and her son Cameron asks his former lover, Lydia Brooke, to ghostwrite the final chapters of his late mother's book, but in the process, they uncover disturbing secrets that may have cost Elizabeth her life.

Tells the story of the collective discovery of evolution, arguing that the idea emerged over many centuries.