Gerald Durrell

[mikey4444]

I have just finished the second book of his time in Corfu....." Birds, Beasts, and Relatives" Like the first book, I really enjoyed it. I am trying to find the third book, "The garden of the Gods" but not having much luck, at lest a copy that I can afford.

But something puzzles me about these books. When him and his family first went to Corfu, it was to stay with his older brother Larry, and his wife, who were already living there. But the books make no mention of Larry's wife at all, and portray him as single !

I wondered why ?

[douglas9401]

£11.88 delivered on Amazon UK

[mikey4444]

Thanks Dougie, but I don't use Amazon, nor do I buy new books, if I can help it, when there are good second hand copies to be had. I will check in the Library this morning, and maybe ebay, always a good source of second hand books.

[wolf63]

Mikey,some

http://tinyurl.com/zqd9boz

[mikey4444]

Thanks Wolfie !

[jennyjoan]

30pence cheaper???

[mikey4444]

I am off to the Library, to see if they have a copy.

[mikey4444]

I have managed to reserve a copy at my local Library this afternoon !

[hc4361]

At least the royalties are paid when you borrow from the library.

[hc4361]

By the way, Larry was married four times so I guess he did have a few gaps where he was single

[mikey4444]

Not according to the history HC.

When the rest of the family went out to Corfu in the 1930's, Larry D was already married and living on the island with his wife Nancy (?), so I can't really see why Gerald D would not have put that in his books ?

Strange !

[woofgang]

maybe it just didn’t fit the story line? The books are based in truth but they aren’t completely factual

[mikey4444]

I am a great believer in local Libraries.

As a kid in the 50's and 60's, I was rarely out of them ! At a time when so many Libraries are closing due to cuts, we should all support our local one as much as possible.

Use it or lose it !

[mikey4444]

Woofy....I think the reason may be that when Gerald wrote the first book, in 1956, Larry may not have still been married to Nancy ?

In fact I have just checked ! He married Nancy in 1935 and divorced her in 1947. That would seem to be the reason that I have been looking for.

[hc4361]

I read all of Gerald's books many years ago. A Zoo in my Luggage really fired my imagination

[hc4361]

I still use my local library and libraries all over the country for eBooks.
Fantastic service

[Jennykenny]

Just in passing, Lawrence Durrell's book about Cyprus, 'Bitter Lemons' is a good read.

[mikey4444]

Jenny...thanks...somebody mentioned before...perhaps it was you....another trip to the Library is called it would seem !

[jourdain2]

Just to add how much I value our mobile library service (they are going to cut it to once a month - but after a fight in which they wanted to stop it altogether). They are brilliant! Keep an up-to-date list of new books which you can reserve; have copies of old local history books; always a cheery chat; know what type of book anyone who is too ill to attend likes - invaluable service. Last week I asked for suggestions for a book not originally published in English. This is for my granddaughter, who is doing a Reading Challenge for her school (proceeds to charity). I came up with Heidi etc., but at 11 with a reading age of about 16, it is far too young for her - appropriate content is, obviously a challenge. They are going to come back with suggestions and copies next week. :)

Back to Durrell - I've read and loved most of his books, you can't go wrong. Enjoy!

[mikey4444]

jourdain2....in these days of rabid Tory Rule, its a wonder that we have any Libraries left at all !