The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals When this
monograph was first published in 1872, there already existed a
good deal of thought on facial expression via the study of
physiognomy; this ... Show synopsis When this monograph was
first published in 1872, there already existed a good deal of
thought on facial expression via the study of physiognomy; this
work, notes Charles Darwin (1809-82), was full of 'surprising
nonsense'. Setting aside the assumption of previous studies that
human facial muscles were created specifically for a range of
expressions unique to the species, Darwin sets out here to make
a systematic study of both human and animal expression. The
range of his research is extraordinarily wide: he not only
experimented on himself, but observed infants, consulted doctors
in psychiatric hospitals and sent out requests to missionaries
and travellers for first-hand notes on the expressions of
aboriginal peoples. Learned, meticulous and illustrated with an
impressive array of drawings, phot