Darwin's Darkest Hour »

In June 1858, Darwin received a letter and manuscript from , a young naturalist working in Indonesia. To Darwin’s shock, Wallace had independently developed a theory of natural selection nearly identical to his own. After 20 years of secretive research, Darwin realized he was in danger of being "scooped" and losing credit for his discovery. Personal Tragedy

"Darwin's Darkest Hour" refers to a critical period in 1858 when Charles Darwin faced a profound personal and professional crisis that nearly derailed his life's work. The Core Crisis: The Wallace Letter Darwin's Darkest Hour

: His infant son, Charles Waring Darwin , died of scarlet fever during the very week he was grappling with Wallace's manuscript. In June 1858, Darwin received a letter and

: Darwin feared his theory would devastate his wife, Emma, a devout Christian who believed his ideas might separate them in the afterlife. The Resolution Personal Tragedy "Darwin's Darkest Hour" refers to a