- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Penguin; New Impression edition (4 Nov 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140013997
- ISBN-13: 978-0140013993
- Product Dimensions: 18 x 11 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
71,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #62 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > Greece
My Family and Other Animals
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
As a self-described "champion of small uglies," Gerald Durrell (1925-1995) devoted his life to writing and the preservation of wildlife, from the Mauritius pink pigeon to the Rodriques fruit bat. My Family and Other Animals was intended to embrace the natural history of the Greek island of Corfu, but ended up as a delightful account of his family's experiences that were, according to him, "rather like living in one of the more flamboyant and slapstick comic operas".
As a 10-year-old boy, Gerry left England for Corfu with "all those items that I thought necessary to relieve the tedium of a long journey: four books on natural history, a butterfly net, a dog, and a jam-jar full of caterpillars all in imminent danger of turning into chrysalids". Durrell's descriptions of his family and its many eccentric hangers-on (he stresses that "all the anecdotes about the island and the islanders are absolutely true") are highly entertaining, as is the procession of toads, scorpions, geckos, ladybugs, glowworms, octopuses, the puppies Widdle and Puke, and the Magenpies. This is a lovely book. --Christine Buttery
Product Description
This book is soaked in the sunshine of Corfu where the author lived as a boy with his 'Family and other Animals.' It is a matter of personal taste whether one most enjoys the family, with its many eccentric hangers-on, or the animals Gerry studies and brings back to the strawberry pink, the daffodil-yellow, or the snow-white villa. The procession includes toads, and tortoises, bats and butterflies scorpions and geckos, ladybirds, glow-worms, octopuses and rose-beetles, Quasimodo the pigeon, the puppies Widdle and Puke, and of course the magpies.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
JULY had been blown out like a candle by a biting wind that ushered in a leaden August sky. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
JULY had been blown out like a candle by a biting wind that ushered in a leaden August sky. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A magical,educational,and funny adventure for all.,
By
This review is from: My Family and Other Animals (Essential Penguin) (Paperback)
What can I say about this wonderful book that can possibly do it justice? I first read it 30 years ago, and I am convinced that it was on the strength of this book that I passed my English Literature G.C.E!! It is an incredible book. It is full of funny, warm characters, and of course, the amazing animals! It must have been like heaven to be a small boy on the island of Corfu. It was this book which made me determined to visit Corfu one day, and when I did, I wasn't disappointed. It evoked for me wonderful images of a country I had never visited, and made me long to see it. The Durrell family are a delight, and the way that Gerald tells the story makes you feel as though you are actually there! I loved it, and still do.My children have read itand they also love it. It is I think an enduring book, one which will continue to delight readers for many years to come.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I wish I could give it 6 stars!,
By David Lundberg "author of OLYMPIC WANDERING: ... (Greensboro, NC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: My Family and Other Animals (Paperback)
This book is absolutely, brilliantly funny. The wit and unique characterizations are woven with great descriptions of the animals and plants of Corfu. That Durrell can hold the attention of readers who have no interest in biology simply demonstrates what a fine work this is. Gerald's depiction of a larger-than-life expatriate family on a larger-than-life Greek island is a tremendous celebration of life. The variety of different Greek characters parading through this book rivals the variety of Corfu's flora and fauna. Absolute great read!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
No reviews?,
By ajk77 "ajk77" (london) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Family and Other Animals (Paperback)
I was surprised there were no reviews for this warm and funny book. I feasted on Gerald Durrell's animal books in my early teens and enjoyed revisiting this recently when I bought as a present for a friend's daughter. Those of his books that feature his rather zany family are always particularly delightful. Recommended for anyone who likes animals, Greeks or taking the mickey out of Lawrence Durrell.
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