My Family and Other Animals cover art

My Family and Other Animals

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About this listen

The book is an autobiographical account of five years in the childhood of naturalist Gerald Durrell. The book is divided into three sections, marking the three villas in which the family lived on the island. Apart from Gerald (the youngest) and Larry, the family comprised their widowed mother, the gun-mad Leslie, and diet-obsessed sister Margo together with Roger the dog.

They are fiercely protected by their taxi-driver friend Spiro (Spyros "Americano" Chalikiopoulos) and mentored by the polymath Dr Theodore Stephanides who provides Gerald with his education in natural history. Other human characters, chiefly eccentric, include Gerald's private tutors, the artistic and literary visitors Larry invites to stay, and the local peasants who befriend the family. An audio treat for those young and old.

©1956 Canongate Books (P)2010 CSA Word Animals Biological Sciences Environment Environmentalists & Naturalists Outdoors & Nature Professionals & Academics Science Science & Technology Funny Conservation Heartfelt Witty Feel-Good

Critic reviews

"Hugh Bonneville gives a lovely reading… Delicious!" ( Daily Express)
All stars
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A gentle and comical reminiscence about the the author's childhood in Corfu with interesting insights into the lives and attitudes of other members of his family including his elder brother Lawrence.

Humorous and undemanding

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Read the book as a child and loved it, now 40 years later listening to the book was every bit as good as I remember. Totally recommend it. It's amusing, and very well read.

Entertaining listen

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well read a good performer for the great voice and a store that is close to my heart

Great story and performance

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5 stars
You bust listen to this if you haven’t already. I listened to this 3 or 4 times over in the care and it never gets old. This is one of the best books I have ever listened to and one of our science labs at school is named after the inspirational main character.

Brilliant... just brilliant

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Beautifully written, beautifully read.
Started listening to it looking out over the sea in Crete and have now listened to it so many times I’ve lost count!
Pure joy!

Wonderful, just wonderful!

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