Roy Davies on The Darwin Conspiracy - October 4, 2014

In this episode of *Where Did The Road Go?*, host Soraya interviews Roy Davies, author of *The Darwin Conspiracy: Origins of a Scientific Crime*, a controversial exploration of Charles Darwin’s role in the development of the theory of evolution. Davies argues that Darwin did not independently develop the theory but instead plagiarized key ideas from Alfred Russel Wallace, a self-taught naturalist working in Southeast Asia. The book details how Wallace’s groundbreaking insights—particularly his 1855 *Sarawak Law* and his 1858 letter describing natural selection based on Malthusian principles—arrived in Darwin’s hands and were immediately incorporated into Darwin’s own work, often without acknowledgment. Davies presents compelling evidence from archival research, including the sudden appearance of 45 new pages on divergence in Darwin’s diary after Wallace’s letter arrived, and the mysterious disappearance of Wallace’s original letter and theory. He critiques the scientific establishment for decades of silence on these discrepancies, suggesting a deliberate cover-up by Darwin’s allies, including Hooker and Lyell, who orchestrated a joint presentation at the Linnaean Society in 1858 to secure Darwin’s priority. Despite Wallace’s foundational contributions, he was sidelined, and Darwin’s name became synonymous with evolution. The episode concludes with a call to action: Davies’ book is out of print and available only through direct contact, prompting listeners to seek it out and reconsider the legacy of one of science’s most celebrated figures.