On the Organic Law of Change

Alfred Russel Wallace

Introduction and notes by James T. Costa

“On the Organic Law of Change offers the first detailed analysis of Wallace’s ‘Species Notebook’ by an evolutionary biologist and is the most important study of the development of Wallace’s evolutionary ideas attempted by anyone so far. Costa is uniquely placed to have done this work; not only does he have an excellent grasp of evolutionary theory, but he also has a detailed understanding of the early history of the subject including the development of Darwin’s ideas about evolution.”—George Beccaloni, Curator of Orthopteroid Insects and Director of the A.R. Wallace Correspondence Project, Natural History Museum, London

“A triumph of careful research. The annotations are illuminating in all regards.”—Janet Browne, Aramont Professor of the History of Science and Chair of the Department of the History of Science, Harvard University

“Alfred Russel Wallace’s ‘Species Notebook’ is surely one of the most important documents in the history of science. Jim Costa’s deft annotations do more than just explain, synthesize, and contextualize this day-to-day account of Wallace at work: they bring his interests and ideas—and Wallace himself—to life. It is truly an unusual privilege to have such a direct view into the workings of an extraordinary mind in the act of formulating some of the most powerful and effective ideas in all of science.”—Andrew Berry, Lecturer on Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University

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