The Evolution of Jane - Paperback

In this "witty novel about family, friendship, and survival of the fittest,"* Cathleen Schine, one of our most astute social observers, examines the origin of species alongside the origins of who we come to be.

Back Jacket

We should rejoice in a rare book like The Evolution of Jane . . . A beautifully descriptive travelogue of the Galapagos . . . wrapped around a rollicking family saga tinged with hints of sexual intrigue. Barbara Kingsolver, New York Times Book Review

"Wonderfully ingenious . . . Very funny, very smart." Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Classy, intelligent fun." People

In some mysterious family feud or unintended slight, Jane Barlow Schwartz lost a friend, her cousin and soul mate Martha. Years later, surrounded by the exotic wildlife of the Galapagos, Jane and Martha meet again. Amid the antics of blue-footed boobies and red-lipped batfish, Jane sets off on a quest through her family history to pinpoint the moment when Martha was no longer the Martha she knew, when the happiest part of her life lapsed into extinction. In the process, she ponders instinct, natural selection, and the oddities of evolution that transform us, examining the origin of species alongside the origins of who we come to be.
"Hilarious." Harper s Bazaar