Darwin’s private papers have been placed online for the first time. You can now read why he thought a wife was better than a dog.

The Darwin Online project, which has been making his work available for years, says this is the “largest ever publication of Darwin papers and manuscripts”. In total 20,000 items have been added to the website. The new additions include Darwin’s first musing on evolution by natural selection and drafts for Descent of Man, as well as more day-to-day documents such as Emma Darwin’s recipe book*.

“His papers reveal how immensely detailed his researches were. The family has always wanted Darwin’s papers and manuscripts to be available to anyone who wants to read them,” says John van Wyhe, the man running the archive (BBC). “The fact that everyone around the world can now see them on the web is simply fantastic.”

The Daily Telegraph notes that the collection now includes Darwin’s classic musing on marriage:

Reasons for not marrying: freedom to go where one liked; choice of Society & little of it. – Conversation of clever men at clubs – Not forced to visit relatives, & to bend in every trifle. – to have the expense & anxiety of children – perhaps quarrelling – Loss of time. – cannot read in the Evenings – fatness & idleness – Anxiety & responsibility – less money for books.

[Reasons for:] Children – (if it Please God) – Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one, – object to be beloved & played with. – better than a dog anyhow.

You old romantic Charles.

*I will be attempting her ‘Irish Charlotte’ this weekend. Stay tuned to see how it goes…

Image: Nature