SOURCE: "Man in Nature," in The Academy, Vol. LXVIII, No. 1722, May 6, 1905, pp. 489-90.

In the following review of The Evolution of Man, Pycraft presents Haeckel's work as a complement to that of Darwin and Huxley.

The problem of the origin of life, and of man in particular, has always exercised a peculiar fascination over the human mind. In these latter days, while many have contrived to satisfy their thirst for information on this subject by the adoption of ancient and venerable traditions, others have ventured to push their inquiries further, though in so doing, they bring down upon themselves the charge of impious curiosity.

Our great countryman, Darwin, did more in his lifetime to lift the veil of this great mystery than had been done in all the centuries before him. But so firmly had the old traditions established themselves that the gift of his labours to the...