A selection of excerts from Gerald's many books, chosen by his wife Lee, to ensure Gerry's message doesn't become lost in the passage of time since his tragic death in '95. (and of course also to raise money for the Zoological Trust) In thsee aims it fully succeeds.

Reader already familiar with GD's works will find this, obviously, somewhat dull as there is no new material at all, not even from GDs writing notes. However as a primer for those who don't know Gerald Durrell, or for those who have only read a few of his nearly 40! books, it is a superb introduction.

Arranged sequentially in time - rather than in GD's publishing history - there are some well loved scenes from his early childhood in Corfu, followed by some of his animal collecting stories, and the difficulties of setting up the famous Trust in Jersey. the final section is the main message about the purpose of the trust in re-establishing endangered species and the ever important value to be placed on conservation in the first place.

GD's charming writing delights in every page, with many many laugh out loud moments. But the underlying seriousness is never lost. Lee has chosen very well in selecting some of the best passages of his work, and certainly left this reader with the inclination to hunt out the full books from whence the passages were chosen. Intersperced are many photos showing the devotion GD paid to the animals in his care, and their warm responces to him. Some of the tales of course, nearly 60 years on highlight the change in attitudes that have taken place. Smoking chimps are no longer acceptible, and neither would be driving them around the countryside or taking them into pubs! The colonial white man's attitude to natives has also changed markedly! But this isn't some PC tract, it is a memoir of how things were at the time, and the hunour, as well as the charm shine through.

The only slight gripe might be that relatively few books of his total ouvre were chosen, and none of his fictional works. ( )