'Early in 1836 Charles Darwin spent two months in Australia as part of his round-the-world voyage on the Beagle. During this time, he visited Sydney, travelled on horseback to Bathurst, visited Hobart and called into King George Sound. In addition to making extensive notes on the geology of the country, and recording some observations on natural history, Darwin interacted with several of the colonies' leading citizens, including Kings and Macarthurs in Sydney, and Alfred Stephen and George Frankland in Hobart. This book provides the definitive account of this part of the Beagle's voyage. It is based on specific transcriptions of the entire Australian section of Darwin's diary, supplemented by extracts from field notes, letters and published material. The lavish illustrations include contemporary works by two of Australia's most famous early artists (Augustus Earle and Conrad Martens), both of whom had been Darwin's Beagle shipmates earlier in the voyage.' (Publication summary)
