There are three separate books in this volume: My Family and Other Animals (1956); Corfu: Birds, Beasts and Relatives (1969); The Garden of the Gods. That the trilogy is 768 pages shouldn’t make anyone think this is long or heavy reading because it is not. First, it is written from the viewpoint of a young boy, ten-year-old Gerry (Gerald Durrell, the naturalist); therefore, the language is easy and flowing. Second, what is in the first book repeats in the others with additions and slight variations.

In fact, I enjoyed greatly reading about a boy who was so engrossed with animals and nature, possibly from birth on. Young Gerry’s adventures with his first experiences with animals from worms and insects to donkeys were sidesplitting funny, and especially the effect of his experiences on his family, as accepting as they were.

On the negative side, reading the same stories three times was a bit disconcerting. Still, the books are fun to read, each in its own way. Also, I sensed a few differences in the writing voice and style among the three books as one or two of them may have been written after Gerald Durrell grew up and developed a style.

The stories begin with the family’s moving to Corfu just before the start of World War II, with the family consisting of Gerry’ mother, siblings Larry, Margo, and Leslie, with Gerry as the youngest. As they settle in Corfu many people cross paths with them, especially Spiro the local man who helps and, once in a rare while, stalls and obstructs the family’s adaptation to the island. Gerry describes Spiro as: “He had a straight, well-shaped nose; a humorous mouth lurking in the ash-blond beard; straight, rather bushy eyebrows under which his eyes, keen but with a twinkle in them and laughter-wrinkles at the corners, surveyed the world. He strode along energetically, humming to himself.”

It isn’t just Spiro but the other locals, the fisherman, and the people of all classes who tolerate and enable the enthusiastic Gerry’s taking liberties with their hospitality, while Gerry drops in on them for snacks, food, and whatever else he can get, and picks and carries home all kinds of animals, wild or tamed.

These books are important because they teach a lesson to all parents everywhere; that is, to give free rein to a child’s tendencies, likes, and hobbies, so they may grow up to be a productive and decent human being like Gerald Durrell. In addition, the local color, a young boy’s passion for nature, and the family members’ quirkiness and individuality make the reading of this trilogy a delightful experience.

entertainment and learning about different ways of living and being

Gerry's enthusiasm and the funny incidents with the animals.

was Gerald Durrell who (1925–1995) was a British naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author, and television presenter. He was the author of the memoirs My Family and Other Animals; Birds, Beasts and Relatives; A Zoo in My Luggage; The Whispering Lands; and The Garden of the Gods; and more than twenty-five nature books. A student of zoology, he founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust on the Channel Island of Jersey.

It is light and entertaining and, to some degree, educational.

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Created Apr 24, 2019 at 5:09pm • Submit your own review...