THE HUXLEYS

by Ronald W. Clark ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 14, 1968

An uncritical appreciation of the work of the extraordinary Huxleys, principally lime-lighters Thomas Henry and grandsons Julian and Aldous, with a few asides on some of the minor members of the family. Mr. Clark, a British journalist, has grazed in these preserves earlier, now particularly admires the Huxley brand of humanist concern arising from their buoyant and muscular devotion to the purest practices of scientific inquiry. Progenitor Thomas Henry Huxley, when asked to review Darwin's evolutionary bombshell, received ""Origins"" as a ""flash of light"" and within a short time became Darwin's popularizer, patiently weathering the abuse of Victorian church and laymen. Julian, at the age of seven, could stare down his delighted grandfather, also followed the path of inquiry and became involved in the infinite possibilities of man's endeavors. Aldous, in both his fictional and philosophical explorations, was aware of the human dichotomy of spirit and substance and travelled a mystic's avenue to reality. . . . Erudite if a bit bloodless, this biographical triptych uses an abundance of Huxley quotations and photographs to substantiate a rare and remarkable breed.

Pub Date: June 14, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION