The inspiration for The Durrells in Corfu, a Masterpiece production on public television: A naturalist’s account of his childhood on the exotic Greek island. When the Durrells could no longer endure the gray English climate, they did what any sensible family would do: sold their house and relocated to the sun-soaked island of Corfu. As they settled into their new home, hilarious mishaps … new home, hilarious mishaps ensued as a ten-year-old Gerald Durrell pursued his interest in natural history and explored the island’s fauna. Soon, toads and tortoises, bats and butterflies—as well as scorpions, geckos, ladybugs, praying mantises, octopuses, pigeons, and gulls—became a common sight in the Durrell villa.
Uproarious tales of the island’s animals and Durrell’s fond reflections on his family bring this delightful memoir to life. Capturing the joyous chaos of growing up in an unconventional household, My Family and Other Animals will transport you to a place you won’t want to leave.
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Gerald Durrell including rare photos from the author’s estate.
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I discovered that I’m incapable of reading this book in public. I read it during my commute to work and on a recent flight, and couldn’t get through more than a few pages at a time without having to stifle laughter or hide a smile.
My Family and Other Animals is a memoir about a British family of five who packs up their belongings and moves to the remote, tropical, fauna-filled island of Corfu. The book is uproariously funny, mixing the precocious and odd viewpoints of the narrator’s ten year-old self with his now-grown self’s wit and insight.
The stories of Gerald’s eccentric family interacting with the island’s inhabitants (both human and non-human) are a refreshing, lighthearted escape. One of the funniest books I’ve ever read — utter entertainment and wholesome fun.
Gerald Durrell is aged 10 when his family move from the inclement climate of England to the warmth of Corfu, where he studies the habitats and peculiarities of scorpions, snakes, fish, insects and bird life…
Gerry’s bedroom soon houses a growing collection of the creatures he finds so fascinating, and the descriptions of the antics of his subjects are a delight to read. He has a wonderful gift for words.
However, it is the antics of his family which provide the reader with endless funny moments. Larry aged 23, Leslie 19 and Margo 18 are a mighty challenge on their widowed mother’s patience!
Spiro a local taxi driver takes the family under his wing, and a plethora of delightful characters welcome the family with warmth and sincerity.
When they depart to England for a lengthy holiday, Gerry’s menagerie comes too. I loved the quote from a Swiss official as he describes the family:
” One travelling circus and staff.”
If you are looking for an intelligent, witty, clever British read that will sweep you away to the green and blue of a Greek island to escape reality via a non-fiction read (a bit of a feat) then this book is for you! Darling, precious, and dear!
This book was my salvation when I was growing up as it offered a glimpse into a family more crazymaking and colorful than mine (previously I thought I had the market cornered on that…) It’s hilarious and heartfelt and showed me that no matter what part of the world we’re from, we’re all the same. And that often family is a life sentence…for better and worse.
Despite the long sections about his time as a boy observing animals and bugs, the stories about the Durrell’s were hilarious and even funnier than the TV show, and it was great to see that the actors of the show really do the family justice! Fun listen.
A gentle, wry memoir composed of vignettes about a charmingly eccentric family recently relocated from the UK to the Greek island of Corfu. The author and main character is the youngest of this unconventional family and his fascination with the natural world and his every growing menagerie (and resulting misadventures) are the basis for most of the stories.
If you enjoyed the PBS series The Durrells on Corfu as much as I did, you’ll want to read the books/memoirs on which it was based. Gerald Durrell, who grew up to be a great naturalist, writes gorgeous prose and tells fascinating stories about his family, about nature and about life on the island of Corfu. It’s quite different from the TV show but utterly absorbing in its on way. This is the first of three memoirs that make up the author’s Corfu Trilogy.
amusing and well written
This is a fascinating story of a young boy’s experiences on the Greek island of Corfu, where he continues his collections of insect, animal, reptile and bird life, and his interactions with his family.
Gerry was allowed a great deal of freedom, and made friends and learned the language rapidly. He loved everything about his life, except school work. It reminded me of my early favorite author, Booth Tarkington’s Penrod books, and Seventeen. Both children were interested in many things, and seemed to find themselves in trouble for no reason they could comprehend. Gerry is more complex, and interacts with adults freely, whereas Penrod avoided adults if possible.
I only wish more books like these were written. They are clean and wholesome stories, with amusing characters.
Wonderful to read after having watched the series on PBS
Watched the streaming series and wanted to read the books. I have not been disappointed. The characters are all wonderful to read about and are very well described. I am transported to Corfu when reading these books and can see in my mind all the wonderful creatures. There are other books in this series and I can’t wait to read them. Many friends have become interested after I raved.
Didn’t grab me at all.
I first heard this book when my 7th grade teacher read it to us in class. About 18 years later, I was stationed with the U.S. Air Force in England. One day I was browsing in a small bookstore and there it was. I felt like I’d found a treasure and eagerly bought a copy. Over the years I’ve bought the same book several times, plus all other books written by the author. I finally bought a biography of Gerald Durrell. I love his writing! I laugh everytime, especially when the mama scorpion gets loose with her babies on her back. Whether these stories are 100% accurate or an exaggeration doesn’t matter, he is an excellent and entertaining author. I HIGHLY recommend this book!
Every word of this book is a gem. Durrell is a brilliant writer. His description is so evocative, so poetic, I had to stop at each sentence and savor the words–which is one reason it’s taken me so long to read! Pure pleasure from beginning to end.
I ended up reading all of the series. Great stuff.
I loved this book!!! I chose it because I had seen the t v series. And it was more entertaining than the series!!! I laughed so hard, I had to put the book aside and wipe my eyes. So fun to read.
Great book, hilarious family.
As much I wished the ability to reach through the pages and scold the spoiled children, I still enjoyed reading of their Corfu life.
Wonderful story that is exceedingly well told!
A funny tale about a kooky family.