COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will study Darwin’s On the Origin of Species primarily as a cultural, literary work, while not ignoring its status as science. It will attend to the nature of its prose, its rhetorical strategies, and its overall structure, qualities that make the book significant as a work of literature, and that influenced the way it was received.
The book was profoundly influential, sometimes transformative, in religion, philosophy, politics, economics, anthropology, ts fundamental principles remain dominant in modern science, it has always been controversial as well, and the course will attend to the most important of those controversies.
Beginning with brief readings from pre-Darwinian thought, it will consider alternative theories of evolution, trace its development, and proceed through close readingof the text itself (with regular reference to the conditions of its production) and conclude with consideration of its history to our present times.

COURSE LEADER
George Levine is Professor Emeritus, English Department, Rutgers University, author of many books on Victorian literature and three books on Darwin.

GENERAL INFORMATION
This Evergreen Forum course will take place virtually via Zoom. Zoom links are sent 24 hours before each class. Any general questions or concerns about this event should be directed to CMAP at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 609-751-9699.

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS are available. Please contact Johanna Peters, Director of Social Services at 609.751.9699, ext. 111 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to submit a request form by following the link here to apply.

REFUND INFORMATION
· We invite you to donate your refund to CMAP. Call us for more information
· Refund checks will be issued for cash, check, and credit card payments
· Payments made electronically will be refunded electronically
· Refund processing time is approximately 2 weeks
· Up to the start of the second week of an Evergreen Forum Course — refunds will be issued minus a $25 processing fee
· No refund will be offered after the second week of class.
· There will be a $25 processing fee for refunds to those who register for the same program more than once