Charles Darwin did not deliberately set out to be the 'destroyer of mythical beliefs', some of which, in his early days as a young Christian, he had previously espoused. He was a modest man who liked to avoid controversy, yet he was to be the cause of one of the greatest controversies in the history of science and religion. When he embarked on HMS Beagle, he could not have imagined the experience would lead him to formulate a theory that would revolutionise the way in which man viewed the natural world. How did this thoughtful, methodical scientist come to have such an impact on his time and on ours? That is the question that Andrew Norman seeks to answer in this lucid and concise biography of the author of "The Origin of Species." SELLING POINTS: . A compelling portrait of one of the most influential scientific thinkers in history . Insight into the character of a modest man whose theories changed our understanding of the world . Follows the entire course of Darwin's life as he progressed from medical student to become the pre-eminent scientist of his time . Looks at the controversy Darwin's writings provoked and at the impact of his work today ILLUSTRATIONS: 30