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.
