Darwin wrote the text, which he entitled Recollections of the Development of my Mind and Character, for his family.

The text was published in 1887 (five years after Darwin's death) by John Murray as part of The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, including an autobiographical chapter.

[1] The omitted passages were later restored by Darwin's granddaughter Nora Barlow in a 1958 edition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species.

[2] This edition was published in London by Collins under the title of The Autobiography of Charles Darwin 1809-1882.

Edited and with appendix and notes by his granddaughter Nora Barlow.