• There is a huge interest in Dawin and evolution, and the developments of his ideas are still controversial
• Darwin's theory of evolution revolutionized not only biology, but the world view of ordinary people, by undermining belief in God's creation

Darwin's theory that our ancestors were apes caused a furore in the scientific world and outside it when The Origin of Species was published in 1859. Arguments still rage about the implications of his evolutionary theory, and scepticism about the value of Darwin's contribution to knowledge is widespread. In this analysis of Darwin's major insights and arguments, Jonathan Howard reasserts the importance of Darwin's work for the development of modern biology.