Although his basic theory was practically complete as early as 1838, Darwin only published it 21 years later, probably due to a fear of the implications this new truth would have, - sheding light on the origin of man and on his history'. Even when 'On the Origin of the Species' was published, in 1859, England wasn't yet ready to accept a doctrine of life's progress from amoeba to man ruled by blind forces rather than by a benevolent will.