2. Studying the Children

Charles Darwin was a true Victorian explorer and one of the biggest names in science.

His great-great-granddaughter is Ruth Padel.

The writer and poet is on a deeply personal journey to investigate the qualities of her ancestor and the man behind the scientist.

Ruth explores how her ancestor established relationships as a husband and father and became a family man, able to blend playing with children and working on scientific experiments.

She investigates how Darwin's curiosity about nature found vent in the study of his children and she also explores the unique relationship between Darwin and his wife Emma.

She also travels to Down House, Darwin's home in Kent, to follow his footsteps in the places he loved to walk.

Among her interviewees are:

* Darwin's biographer, Janet Browne
* Writer and fellow Darwin descendant, Randal Keynes
* Experts from Down House.

Producer: Emma Kingsley

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2009.