The books describes the historical development of evolutionary genetics, starting from early ideas on evolution and ending with the modern synthesis. It provides an extensive coverage of the history of both evolution and heredity, and gives detailed descriptions of the works of Lamarck, Darwin, Mendel, Näageli, Weismann, de Vries, Galton, Pearson, Bateson, Johannsen, Morgan, Fisher, Wright and Haldane, amongst many others. The book does not deal only with a description of historical work: it also analyses and critiques existing theories and evolutionary beliefs throughout history, and discusses several controversies between biologists.

"My overall view is that the level of detail is wonderful and makes for a highly informative read. But what is also very interesting is…focus on some work that is typically not discussed in the histories of the Modern Synthesis (including my own!). I think this is a tremendous contribution and will help to broaden scholarship here..."  Tom Dickins, Middlesex University