My dear George

Between 1881-1883, the years surrounding Darwin’s death, Emma wrote over 80 letters to her son George. One of the letters Emma wrote a month after Darwin’s death gave us an interesting detail which is perhaps not known to many. She bequeathed the book ‘Wives and daughters’ to George, with just a line—

“I shall like you to have Wives & D. very much.”

George had apparently placed that letter in the book. A note was written on a copy of the letter and from the note, we know that Wives and daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell was the last book read aloud to Darwin. We also know that “it was a great favourite”. George had passed the book down to Gwen Raverat, his daughter, who later gave it to her daughter Sophie Pryor.

In this and most of the other letters, Emma gave brief information on various members of the family, friends, neighbours, weather and politics. Her power of observation and the amusing way she expressed them are heartwarming to read.