THE great-great-grandaughter of Charles Darwin, history’s most famous biologist, attracted a capacity audience for her Haslemere Festival talk at the museum.

Emma Darwin spoke about her latest work of creative non-fiction, This Is Not A Book About Charles Darwin, a wry account of her journey through her celebrated family.

Books about Charles Darwin and his wife and cousin Emma Wedgwood are legion, but Emma had wanted to take a road less travelled.

She recounted the fascinating real lives of Erasmus Darwin and the Lunar Society; Tom Wedgwood, the first photographer; Julia Wedgwood, who as a writer and intellectual was ranked with George Eliot; Ralph Vaughan Williams and his extraordinary love story; and poet and Communist John Cornford, first Briton to be killed in the Spanish Civil War.

The author also signed copies of her book and guests were treated to a glass of fizz.

Haslemere Travel owner Gemma Antrobus said: “As the owner of a local independent travel business, I was thrilled to introduce Emma as a direct descendant of Charles Darwin, who famously travelled around the world describing the wonderful animal life he discovered in many exotic places.

“Locations included Australia, where a member of our team is currently researching new properties and sights, as well as the Galapagos Islands, which I hope to visit later this year.

“This was our third literary evening and I was delighted Haslemere Travel could once again sponsor an event at the Haslemere Festival, as well as support the museum.”