Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was a biological Janus, at once a highly competent taxonomist in a traditional mold and a bold, almost visionary, philosopher of nature who aspired to contrive an all-embracing "physics of the earth" by sheer force of intellect. Lamarck is generally remembered only for his ideas about the inheritance of acquired characters, ideas he did not originate or take special credit for, ideas that were only one part of his broad theory of evolution. In this, the first modern book-length study of Lamarck, Richard Burkhardt examines the origin and development of Lamarck's theory of organic evolution, the major theory prior to Darwin.

It is a great relief to have at last a good book on Lamarck in English, neither partisan through patriotism, nor distorted by dislike of Darwin. Burkhardt gives us an excellent introduction to Lamarck, his contemporaries and predecessors, and to the scientific bodies and institutions in revolutionary Paris...Exceptionally well written.
-- A. J. Cain Nature