This highly educational book comprises a series of essays by the intellectual and scientist Grant Allen, author and novelist, and a successful upholder of many scientific theories. As a scientist Allen was an evolutionist, and as a novelist one of his most persistent themes was the effect of heredity.Even his lighter and more popular works evidence not only his scientific outlook but also his persistent questioning of established convention and of institutions and officials that uphold it. A walk with him was an education in botany and zoology, and he had no whimsies or quirks; he was always...