The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex was originally published in 1871 and is a book written by evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin. In it, Darwin explores evolutionary theory and natural selection, building upon his already well-known ideas of evolution. Specifically, he delves into the relationship between sexual selection and society.
The book was generally well received at that time with a significant number of copies sold. However, Darwin's ideas were already well known and discussed in the scientific community by the time the book came out. This resulted in a generally positive reception by the public and the scientific community, but little surprise owing to the fact that there were no significantly new revelations.
Darwin and his children made numerous revisions to the book and the most common edition is the one that was edited by Darwin and his son George. It was first published in 1874 and continues to be the most printed edition to date.
