- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; New Ed edition (16 Feb 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006387640
- ISBN-13: 978-0006387640
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 886,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
‘Lee Durrell has distilled an intoxicating miniature of a man who, when the history of our times slots into final place, will be judged among the greats.’ Mail on Sunday
‘Hilarious, serious, provocative, informative and moving.’ New Scientist
Product Description
An irresistible collection of the very best of Gerald Durrell’s writings, selected by his widow Lee Durrell.
Many people’s introduction to Gerald Durrell was ‘My Family and Other Animals’, the glorious description of his childhood in Corfu, full of sunshine, humour and sheer delight in discovering the natural world and the animals inhabiting it.
Durrell spent his life contributing in every way he could to the conservation struggle. By the time he died in 1995 he had written nearly forty books, amusing countless readers and inspiring them to join the conservation fight.
Durrell’s ability to tell a good story and his acutely perceptive observations of both animals and the human species are unrivalled. This lavishly illustrated collection serves as a glowing testimony to one of the animal world’s most famous champions.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a huge fan of Gerald Durrell, I obviously found this book a joy to read. Nevertheless, prior to embarking on it, I was unsure as to whether I would find it as interesing as many of his others, due to the fact that I had already read many of the books from which the extracts had been taken.
However, I was happily wrong. The passages given undoubtably show Durrell at his supreme best and highlight his ability to make even the slightest thing interesting, entertaining and touching.
Something quite outstanding happened to me whilst reading this book. I looked up in the midst of it and genuinely expected to see Pere David deer running about, to see a great lion, or to be confronted by a huge smiling chimpanzee. That feeling was incredible. No other author has ever involved me like that, and I do not believe any other ever will.
In my mind he was the most amazing man - and this book more than ably highlights this. An excellent introduction to the Durrell genius, or a welcome reminder to the veteren reader, of a most splendid man.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a well-chosen collection of excerpts from Durrell's books on his experiences travelling to collect animals with the ultimate aim of conserving species. Many of these books were never published in the USA so it would be eagerly read by American fans of Durrell. There is no getting away from it; Gerald Durrell was a master raconteur and his little books read really well and appeal to readers of almost all ages. I think that in these latter days there are more criticisms about his zeal for collecting animals than there were even in his lifetime, and it is sad to reflect that the celebrity we now most associate with conservation with a capital C (deservedly) is David Attenborough, not Durrell. Interestingly, they were born the same year. I have only one criticism about the book: the delightful line drawing illustrations which enlivened the original books are missing. However there are some informative photographs of Durrell and his friends and associates- both human and otherwise.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Well Done!
9 July 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a funny and strongly compelling collection of stories written by Gerald Durrell - conservationist, author, audacious story-teller, hero. His wife, Lee Durrell, has truly stepped up to the plate and put together a marvelous representation of Durrell's work, taking up the cause of conservation as ably as her husband could have wished. This timely book is a must-read for anyone who lives on our fragile planet.
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