Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vestiges_of_the_Natural_History_of_Creation

Release date is 2004-12-01

The bodies of space, their arrangements and formation -- Constituent materials of the earth and of the other bodies of space -- The earth formed: era of the primary rocks -- Commencement of organic life: sea plants, corals, etc. -- Era of the old red sandstone: fishes abundant -- Secondary rocks; era of the carboniferous formation; land formed; commencement of land plants -- Era of the new red sandstone; terrestrial zoology commences with reptiles; first traces of birds -- Era of the oolite; commencement of mammalia -- Era of the cretaceous formation -- Era of the tertiary formation: mammalia abundant -- Era of the superficial formations: commencement of present species -- General considerations respecting the origin of the animated tribes -- Particular considerations respecting the origin of the animated tribes -- Hypothesis of the development of the vegetable and animal kingdoms -- MacLeay system of animated nature; this system considered in connexion with the progress of organic creation, and as indicating the natural status of man -- Early history of mankind -- Mental constitution of animals -- Purpose and general condition of the animated creation -- Note conclusory.

Transcribed from the 1844 John Churchill edition by David Price

"Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation" by Robert Chambers is a work of speculative natural history published anonymously in 1844. It presents a sweeping theory of cosmic evolution, tracing the development of everything from the Solar System to human beings through natural laws rather than divine intervention. This accessible narrative became an international bestseller among Victorian readers, though it sparked fierce controversy. Scientists criticized its amateur errors while clergymen condemned its challenge to natural theology. The book's revolutionary ideas about progressive transmutation would help prepare public opinion for Darwin's theories fifteen years later. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified