The Fall of Man; Or, The Loves of the Gorillas: A Popular Scientific Lecture Upon the Darwinian Theory of Development by Sexual Selection: Play Guide and Free Edition
The Fall of Man; Or, The Loves of the Gorillas: A Popular Scientific Lecture Upon the Darwinian Theory of Development by Sexual Selection: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Fall of Man; Or, The Loves of the Gorillas: A Popular Scientific Lecture Upon the Darwinian Theory of Development by Sexual Selection is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for White, Richard Grant (1821–1885).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Fall of Man; Or, The Loves of the Gorillas" by Richard Grant White is a satirical work that blends humor with popular science, written during the early 1870s. This unique book serves as a scientific lecture presented from the perspective of a learned gorilla, exploring the Darwinian theory of evolution and sexual selection in animals. It reflects the Victorian era's fascination with science and the evolution of species, while simultaneously highlighting the absurdities and follies of human behavior. The narrative unfolds as the gorilla lecturer addresses a gathering of his fellow creatures, expounding upon humanity's descent from primates and the resulting qualities that separate humans from their illustrious ancestors. Through a series of humorous and exaggerated anecdotes—including romantic pursuits among gorillas, a sea-serpent encounter, and the eventual "fall" of gorillas into being more human-like—White critiques societal norms, human relationships, and the concept of progress. The lecture cleverly intertwines elements of evolution with satirical commentary on gender dynamics and the pitfalls of modern civilization, ultimately painting a broad picture of how unwise choices can lead to degradation.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Fall of Man; Or, The Loves of the Gorillas: A Popular Scientific Lecture Upon the Darwinian Theory of Development by Sexual Selection
- Author credits: White, Richard Grant (1821–1885)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882 -- Humor
- Gorilla -- Behavior
- Human beings -- Origin
- Human evolution
- Natural selection
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Humour
- Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


