The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals

Readers of “The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals” get to witness Charles Darwin at his best and bravest. In a sort of sequel to his “Descent of Man,” Darwin discusses the physiology and psychology associated with the behavior and expressions of both humans and animals. He begins with the general principles of expressions and continues with focused study of specific emotions like grief, shame, fear, joy and love. Along with his writings, he includes a wealth of entertaining illustrations of faces and features of the various emotions. He argues that the emotions in man and animals are connected. Viewing animals and humans as independent creations would limit the ability to study and understand the causes of emotional behavior and expression. Sometimes considered to be a part of Darwin’s “trilogy” on his theory of evolution, this unique and historical work is a valuable asset in the study of the great scientist and his teachings.