"vestiges of the natural history of creation" remained a best-seller- it paved the way for widespread interest in the theory of natural selection. english naturalist charles darwin introduced this ideas in his 1859 book, "on the origin of species". darwin's book was praised by unitarians as well as by liberal anglican theologians praised darwin's book. their "essays and reviews" (1860) was more controversial in britain than darwin's publication. its support of higher criticism questioned the historical accuracy of literal interpretations of the bible and added declarations that miracles were irrational.