My Animals and Other Family

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Spiro, the brutally efficient taxi-driver who "adopts" the Durrell family the moment they land on Corfu, who can even steal goldfish from the King's house to satisfy Gerry; Durrell was better known as a leading naturalist and conservationist, but it would be a huge mistake to disregard his skill as an author. Numerous individual animals of rare species born in captivity have been named "Gerry" or "Gerald" as homage to Durrell, among them the first Aldabra giant tortoise born in captivity. Sophie, my secretary, who was responsible for the introduction of commas and the ruthless eradication of the split infinitives

One thing I was not expecting but received was an education in tortoise mating. Amazing to think of this young boy taking it all in. Me ha encantado! Es entrañable, evocador y MUY divertido, hacía tiempo que no me reía a carcajada limpia con un libro pero Durrell lo consigue con una facilidad envidiable. Of more lasting emotional importance for Gerald though is Theodore Stephanides (Chris Langham), a biologist and witty raconteur who is young Gerald's link not only to the marine and insect life that Corfu has to offer, but also its rich cultural beauty too.Pardon me, I never even realized that I might ruffle a few feathers by using it myself! That's beside the point. This is ruined by two things: 1. The music. An oppressive ever present whistling, a diabolical melody is whistled at the beginning and throughout anytime there is no talking. It dictates the mood of any scene, it pervades strangles and suffocates like a weed.

A taxi driver, devoted friend of the Durrells who speaks unconventional English, adding 's' at random.Mother's dog. Dodo constantly challenges beauty standards. Affectionately called by Larry 'that canine Frankenstein'. Shortly afterwards, to our relief, Lugaretzia's stomach got better, but almost immediately her feet gave out, and she would hobble pitifully round the house, groaning loudly and frequently. Larry said that Mother hadn't hired a maid, but a ghoul, and suggested buying her a ball and chain. He pointed out that this would at least let us know when she was coming, and allow us time to escpe, for Lugaretzia had developed the habit of creeping up behind one and groaning loudly and unexpectedly in one's ear.

Disappointingly, I didn't get much of an idea of the personalities of the animals Clare grew up with - this book is really just about Clare.

The book says five years, but there were actually four years and three months, from March 1935 to June 1939 (source: Douglas Botting).