The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals and the Evolution of Mind – Early Writings of Charles Darwin" (1980). Development of the Text 1866 - 1872: Very little of Darwin's turmoil surfaced in "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, although Chapter 7 contains a mildly expressed argument on instinctive behaviour. In the public management of his evolutionary theory, Darwin understood that its relevance to human emotional life could draw a hostile response. Nevertheless, while preparing the text of "The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication" in 1866, Darwin took the decision to publish a book on "human" ancestry, sexual selection and emotional life. After his
The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms went the less controversial direction of the lowly worm. His network of correspondents and fans responded to his interest and "earthworm anecdotes began surfacing in his mountain of mail". He had been interested in earthworms "since his first fishing days at The Mount and flirting days at Maer". Still, other work constrained him. Broken off from "Descent", he had to finish his next work "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals". By 1876, with his first grandson on the way, he felt his writing life was nearly over, with so much unfinished. He wanted to write on earthworms