Were Wallace and Darwin really on friendly professional and personal terms?
Yes, though it is quite likely that Wallace–how shall we say it–“worried Darwin a little.” All of their correspondence and such other evidence as exists suggests that they truly were on friendly (though certainly not “bosom buddy”) personal terms. There can also be no doubt that the two men recognized and respected each other as major creative and intellectual forces. But they did often disagree on how to apply their ideas to specific problems, and such disagreements seemed to trouble Darwin more than they did Wallace. I surmise (especially from his correspondence) that Darwin came to regard Wallace as being something of a “loose cannon” at times, and the latter’s attachment to spiritualism and various radical social causes undoubtedly did little to soften his opinion. Yet Darwin continued to seek Wallace’s assistance and advice and to compliment him on his various writings until Darwin’s death in 1882, and to an extent that surely extended beyond mere politeness.
