Gerald Durrell

‘A renegade who was right . . . He was truly a man before his time’ SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH‘An account of Durrell’s very first job, as an animal handler at Whipsnade, just after the end of the Second World War, an experience that helped fashion his philosophy of animal keeping’ GUARDIANAt the age of two I made up my mind quite firmly and unequivocally that the only thing I wanted to do was to study animals. Nothing else interested me.Republished to celebrate the centenary of his birth, here is Gerald Durrell’s legendary account of his coming-of-age as a reader, writer and budding naturalist at Whipsnade Zoo. He joyfully recaptures the glory of this single formative year where, in the crucible of muck, operatic brown bears, and reading Pliny by night and tending to the lions by day, the passionate worldview of one of the century’s great animal-loving renegades came into full view.‘One of the finest and most lyrical nature writers in English’ OBSERVER

A classic Gerald Durrell title reissued by Penguin to celebrate the centenary of his birthThe Manor of the title is Les Augrès Manor in Trinity, Jersey. Inside, we find a remarkable collection of pen portraits of some of the creatures of Gerald Durrell's Zoo. We also discover some of the timeless lessons Durrell learned about making real and sustaining his childhood ambition of having his own zoo - and why conservation matters more than ever.One of Gerald Durrell's most beloved titles is back in print as a Penguin paperback to celebrate the centenary of his birth.'This book is a certain joy' New Statesman'Animals come close to being Durrell's best friends. . . . He writes about them with style, verve, and humour' Time

"Piknik i prochie koshmary" - eto prodolzhenie romanov "Moja semja i drugie zveri" - "knigi, zavorazhivajuschej v bukvalnom smysle slova" (Sunday Times) i "samoj voskhititelnoj idillii, kakuju tolko mozhno voobrazit" (The New Yorker), - "Ptitsy, zveri i rodstvenniki" i "Sad bogov", a takzhe sbornika rasskazov "Prazdniki, zveri i prochie nesuraznosti". S neizmennoj ljubovju i nepodrazhaemym jumorom Darrell rasskazyvaet o prebyvanii svoej semi (v tom chisle starshego brata Larri, to est Lorensa Darrella - buduschego avtora znamenitogo "Aleksandrijskogo kvarteta") na grecheskom ostrove Korfu i ob ikh dalnejshikh prikljuchenijakh, demonstriruja samuju shirokuju palitru pisatelskogo masterstva vplot do goticheskoj istorii o prizrakakh. Eti romany i sborniki razoshlis po miru mnogomillionnymi tirazhami, stali nastolnymi knigami uzhe u neskolkikh pokolenij chitatelej, a v Anglii dazhe voshli v shkolnuju programmu. "Trilogija o Korfu" (s techeniem vremeni razrosshajasja do shesti knig) trizhdy perenosilas na teleekran, prichem poslednij raz - v 2016-2019 godakh, kogda britanskaja kompanija ITV vypustila serial "Darrelly", odnim iz postanovschikov kotorogo vystupil Edvard Kholl ("Abbatstvo Daunton", "Miss Marpl Agaty Kristi").Sbornik publikuetsja v novom perevode, vypolnennom Sergeem Taskom, chi perevody Toma Vulfa i Dzhona Le Karre, Stivena Kinga i Pola Ostera, Iena Makjuena, Richarda Jejtsa i Frensisa Skotta Fitsdzheralda uzhe stali klassicheskimi.

Dzherald Darrell - pisatel-naturalist s mirovym imenem - rasskazyvaet o zhizni svoej ekstsentrichnoj semi na grecheskom ostrove Korfu v 1930-e gody.S nepodrazhaemym jumorom, neizmennoj ljubovju ko vsemu zhivomu i detskoj nepsredstvennostju Darrell delitsja vospominanijami o godakh, provedennykh sredi prichudlivykh obitatelej ostrova, i obo vsekh perezhitykh radostjakh i gorestjakh. Izdaetsja v perevode L. Derevjankinoj.

Gerald Durrell’s beloved account of his childhood in Corfu, now in Penguin Modern Classics for the first time ‘When My Family and Other Animals was published it was as if someone had flung back the curtains, thrown up the windows and let in a stream of bright light’ - Kathryn Hughes, Guardian‘Gerald Durrell was magic’ - Sir David Attenborough 'Living in Corfu was rather like living in one of the more flamboyant and slapstick comic operas’It is 1935 and the Durrells have escaped the leaden summer skies of Bournemouth to arrive ‘like a troupe of medieval tumblers’ on the sun-drenched island of Corfu for a new life. Gerald Durrell’s beloved portrayal of his chaotic family – beatific Mother, Roger the dog, diet-obsessed Margo, book-loving Lawrence and gun-wielding Leslie – as well as his own adventures with a burgeoning menagerie of beasts, birds and insects (including an owl called Ulysses), is a timeless account of an idyllic childhood and an uproarious portrait of the English abroad.

Gerald Durrell’s beloved account of his childhood in Corfu, now in Penguin Modern Classics for the first time'Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities' - Sunday Telegraph ‘My collection of animals swelled to a point where even Mother occasionally grew alarmed’The island of Corfu, where the Durrell family live in agreeable chaos, is paradise for aspiring naturalist Gerald. His battalion of creatures has grown to include eleven puppies, a toad named Dierdre and an unwelcome infestation of scorpions. Yet the human visitors to their sun-drenched villa are even more curious, whether it is an innocent pair of American painters ripe for practical jokes, or a supercilious Count who barely survives an outing on Gerald’s home-made boat, the Bootle-bumtrinket. The third volume in the Corfu Trilogy brings this glorious tale of halcyon days to a close.

Volume Two of Gerald Durrell’s beloved account of his childhood in Corfu, now in Penguin Modern Classics for the first time'A lot of frolic, fun and charming ribaldry, as well as the warm feeling of having been transported to a lovely spot where worry is unknown and anything is believable' - The New York Times‘Another tiger-golden day lay ahead of us. It was as though England had never really existed’The Durrell clan’s escapades on their Greek island home resume with the second volume of the Corfu Trilogy. Budding zoologist Gerald continues to explore the natural wonders around him, enjoying a night fishing trip, receiving a donkey as a birthday present and accidentally bringing a bear home for tea. Here too are more stories of the eccentric creatures he calls his family, including Margo’s ill-advised foray into spiritualism and what becomes known as ‘Mother’s Great Romance’. Ending as the Second World War is declared, Birds, Beasts and Relatives is an enchanting return to a magical place.

A posthumous work from the beloved conservationist and naturalist Gerald Durrell, to celebrate the centenary of his birth, with a new foreword by HRH Princess Anne.‘Gerald Durrell was magic’ SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH ‘A wise, genial and world-encompassing book’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Fills important gaps in the biographical narrative . . . Truly, there is magic here’ GUARDIAN Myself and Other Animals is a new book mosaicked from unpublished autobiographies, uncollected pieces and previously published extracts from Durrell’s work and archives. The result is an extraordinary journey through Durrell’s life in his own words, edited and introduced by his widow Lee Durrell.Drawing on a memoir that Durrell started writing before he became too ill to continue it, and an unfinished book from a trip to Australia in 1969 to the Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory and Queensland, here is the unvarnished story of Durrell’s life, from touching family tributes to golden bats and pink pigeons.Moving from India to England and then to the always sun-lit Corfu, told with dry wit and insight into our fellow animals, here is the vivid finale of one of Britain’s most beloved conservationists and prose stylists.'Funny and readable and hugely charming' i ‘One of the finest and most lyrical nature writers in English’ OBSERVER'A moving tribute to Gerald's endeavours and achievements as a conservationist' SPECTATOR

"Trilogija o Korfu" - eto "knigi, zavorazhivajuschie v bukvalnom smysle slova" (Sunday Times) i "samaja voskhititelnaja idillija, kakuju tolko mozhno voobrazit" (The New Yorker). S neizmennoj ljubovju, bezuprechnoj tochnostju i nepodrazhaemym jumorom Darrell rasskazyvaet o pjatiletnem prebyvanii svoej semi (v tom chisle starshego brata Larri, to est Lourensa Darrella - buduschego avtora znamenitogo "Aleksandrijskogo kvarteta") na grecheskom ostrove Korfu. Romany razoshlis po miru mnogomillionnymi tirazhami, stali nastolnymi knigami uzhe u neskolkikh pokolenij chitatelej, a v Anglii dazhe voshli v shkolnuju programmu. Trilogija (so vremenem razrosshajasja do shesti knig) trizhdy perenosilas na teleekran, prichem poslednij raz - v 2016-2019 godakh, kogda britanskaja kompanija ITV vypustila chetyre sezona seriala "Darrelly", odnim iz postanovschikov kotorogo vystupil Edvard Kholl ("Abbatstvo Daunton", "Miss Marpl Agaty Kristi"). Romany publikujutsja v novom, polnom perevode, vypolnennom Sergeem Taskom, chi perevody Toma Vulfa i Dzhona Le Karre, Stivena Kinga i Pola Ostera, Iena Makjuena, Richarda Jejtsa i Frensisa Skotta Fitsdzheralda uzhe stali klassicheskimi.

"Moja semja i drugie zveri" - eto "kniga, zavorazhivajuschaja v bukvalnom smysle slova" (Sunday Times) i "samaja voskhititelnaja idillija, kakuju tolko mozhno voobrazit" (The New Yorker). S neizmennoj ljubovju, bezuprechnoj tochnostju i nepodrazhaemym jumorom Darrell rasskazyvaet o pjatiletnem prebyvanii svoej semi (v tom chisle starshego brata Larri, to est Lourensa Darrella - buduschego avtora znamenitogo "Aleksandrijskogo kvarteta") na grecheskom ostrove Korfu. I sam etot roman, i ego prodolzhenija razoshlis po miru mnogomillionnymi tirazhami, stali nastolnymi knigami uzhe u neskolkikh pokolenij chitatelej, a v Anglii dazhe voshli v shkolnuju programmu. "Trilogija o Korfu" trizhdy perenosilas na teleekran, prichem poslednij raz - v 2016 godu, kogda britanskaja kompanija ITV vypustila pervyj sezon seriala "Darrelly", odnim iz postanovschikov kotorogo vystupil Edvard Kholl ("Abbatstvo Daunton", "Miss Marpl Agaty Kristi"). Roman publikuetsja v novom polnom perevode, vypolnennom Sergeem Taskom, chi perevody Toma Vulfa i Dzhona Le Karre, Stivena Kinga i Pola Ostera, Iena Makjuena, Richarda Jejtsa i Frensisa Skotta Fitsdzheralda uzhe stali klassicheskimi. Rekomenduem!

"Moja semja i drugie zveri" - eto "kniga, zavorazhivajuschaja v bukvalnom smysle slova" (Sunday Times) i "samaja voskhititelnaja idillija, kakuju tolko mozhno voobrazit" (The New Yorker). S neizmennoj ljubovju, bezuprechnoj tochnostju i nepodrazhaemym jumorom Darrell rasskazyvaet o pjatiletnem prebyvanii svoej semi (v tom chisle starshego brata Larri, to est Lourensa Darrella - buduschego avtora znamenitogo "Aleksandrijskogo kvarteta") na grecheskom ostrove Korfu. I sam etot roman, i ego prodolzhenija razoshlis po miru mnogomillionnymi tirazhami, stali nastolnymi knigami uzhe u neskolkikh pokolenij chitatelej, a v Anglii dazhe voshli v shkolnuju programmu. "Trilogija o Korfu" trizhdy perenosilas na teleekran, prichem poslednij raz - v 2016-2019 godakh, kogda britanskaja kompanija ITV vypustila chetyre sezona seriala "Darrelly", odnim iz postanovschikov kotorogo vystupil Edvard Kholl ("Abbatstvo Daunton", "Miss Marpl Agaty Kristi"). Roman publikuetsja v novom polnom perevode, vypolnennom Sergeem Taskom, chi perevody Toma Vulfa i Dzhona Le Karre, Stivena Kinga i Pola Ostera, Iena Makjuena, Richarda Jejtsa i Frensisa Skotta Fitsdzheralda uzhe stali klassicheskimi.

Dzherald Darrell (1925-1995) - znamenityj anglijskij zoolog i puteshestvennik, odna iz kultovykh figur XX veka. Knigi Darrella uzhe davno sostavljajut zolotoj fond mirovoj literatury i polzujutsja bolshoj populjarnostju u chitatelej po vsemu miru. V 50-kh godakh proshlogo veka Darrell odnu za drugoj snarjazhal ekspeditsii v raznye kontsy sveta. "Gonchie Bafuta" - eto istorija vtorogo puteshestvija proslavlennogo zverolova v Zapadnuju Afriku. Osnovnoj trudnostju etoj poezdki, kak ni stranno, stal ne poisk dikikh zhivotnykh v mestakh, ne tronutykh tsivilizatsiej, a tesnoe obschenie so vzbalmoshnym pravitelem Kameruna - Fonom Bafutoj, ljubitelem ezhednevnykh uveselenij, kotoryj razgljadel v Darrelle kompanona. I vse zhe samoj tjazheloj i grustnoj chastju kazhdogo podobnogo puteshestvija, po slovam zoologa, bylo ego zavershenie. Ved posle neskolkikh mesjatsev, provedennykh bok o bok s pojmannymi zhivotnymi, s nimi prikhodilos rasstavatsja. Osoznav eto, Darrell ponjal, chto problemu mozhno reshit tolko edinstvennym sposobom - vzjat i otkryt sobstvennyj zoopark. O tom, kak sozdavalsja odin iz samykh izvestnykh na segodnjashnij den pitomnikov, avtor rasskazyvaet v povesti "Zoopark v moem bagazhe". Izdanie soderzhit illjustratsii izvestnogo britanskogo khudozhnika Ralfa Tompsona.

Dzherald Darrell (1925-1995) - znamenityj anglijskij zoolog i puteshestvennik, odna iz kultovykh figur XX veka. Knigi Darrella uzhe davno sostavljajut zolotoj fond mirovoj literatury i polzujutsja bolshoj populjarnostju u chitatelej po vsemu miru. V proizvedenijakh, kotorye voshli v etu knigu ("Tri bileta do Edvencher", "Pod pologom pjanogo lesa"), rasskazyvaetsja o puteshestvijakh Darrella v Juzhnuju Ameriku. Tam velikij zverolov i ego komanda zanimalis poiskami redkikh zverej i ptits. Po slovam Darrella, suschestvuet oshibochnoe mnenie o tom, budto poimka zhivotnykh v professii zverolova - samoe trudnoe. No v dejstvitelnosti nastojaschaja rabota nachinaetsja, kogda zhivotnoe uzhe pojmano. Obespechit zverjam pravilnoe pitanie, a samoe glavnoe, dostavit ikh v zoopark - zachastuju ochen neprostaja zadacha. Vprochem, Darrell nikogda ne skryval togo, chto radi ljubimogo dela - poroj opasnogo i khlopotnogo, no nikogda ne skuchnogo - on gotov byl riskovat i preterpevat vsevozmozhnye neudobstva. O svoikh vpechatlenijakh ot Juzhnoj Ameriki, ee fantasticheskoj prirody, o vstrechakh s novymi zhivotnymi, ikh povadkakh, zabavnom i poroj ochen trogatelnom obschenii s nimi avtor pishet s neizmennoj ljubovju, bezuprechnoj tochnostju i nepodrazhaemym jumorom. Izdanie soderzhit illjustratsii znamenitogo britanskogo khudozhnika Ralfa Tompsona.

Dzherald Darrell (1925-1995) - znamenityj anglijskij zoolog i puteshestvennik, odna iz kultovykh figur XX veka. Knigi Darrella uzhe davno sostavljajut zolotoj fond mirovoj literatury i polzujutsja bolshoj populjarnostju u chitatelej po vsemu miru. "Put kengurenka" - eto istorija shestimesjachnoj ekspeditsii Darrella v Novuju Zelandiju, Avstraliju i Malajju. Nesmotrja na to chto puteshestvenniki proveli v kazhdoj iz stran ne tak uzh i mnogo vremeni, im udalos poznakomitsja s neverojatnym raznoobraziem zhivotnogo i rastitelnogo mira ostrovnykh gosudarstv. O tom, kakie trudnosti i otkrytija zhdali proslavlennogo naturalista i ego sputnikov v ekspeditsii, on rasskazyvaet s nepodrazhaemym jumorom i issledovatelskoj tochnostju. Povest "Pojmajte mne kolobusa" predstavljaet soboj zarisovki iz zhizni sotrudnikov sozdannogo Darrellom Dzhersijskogo zooparka - zhizni nastolko udivitelnoj (odna ekspeditsija v Afriku za leopardami i obezjanami chego stoit!), chto mnogim iz nas ona pokazhetsja neverojatno zakhvatyvajuschim prikljucheniem. Izdanie soderzhit illjustratsii izvestnykh britanskikh khudozhnikov Barri Drajskolla i Edvarda Mortelmansa.

Dzherald Darrell (1925-1995) - znamenityj anglijskij zoolog i puteshestvennik, odna iz kultovykh figur XX veka. Knigi Darrella uzhe davno sostavljajut zolotoj fond mirovoj literatury i polzujutsja bolshoj populjarnostju u chitatelej po vsemu miru. Buduchi s detstva oderzhim ideej sozdat sobstvennyj zoopark, Darrell vzjal v arendu pomeste na ostrove Dzhersi, gde i poselil pervykh zhivotnykh, privezennykh im iz Zapadnoj Afriki, no za predstaviteljami juzhnoamerikanskoj fauny Darrellu, ego zhene Dzheki i sekretarju Sofi prishlos otpravitsja v Argentinu. V "Zemle shorokhov" opisano ikh vosmimesjachnoe puteshestvie po strane, vkljuchajuschee mnogochasovye pereezdy na mashine po poberezhju v poiskakh pingvinov, morskikh kotikov i glavnoj tseli ekspeditsii - morskikh slonov. Razumeetsja, po puti Darrellu i ego sputnikam vstrechalas i drugaja zhivnost, naseljajuschaja argentinskuju pampu: ot nasekomykh do popugaev, ot bronenostsev do penelop. Nekotorye iz nikh vposledstvii takzhe stali zhiteljami Dzhersijskogo zooparka. "Pomeste-zverinets" predstavljaet soboj sobranie istorij o zhizni osnovannogo Darrellom pitomnika. Iz zametok proslavlennogo zoologa vy uznaete ob osobennostjakh ustrojstva zooparka, pojavlenii dolgozhdannogo potomstva ego postojaltsev, konechno, o trogatelnom i poroj zabavnom vzaimodejstvii zhivotnykh s ljudmi, kotorye o nikh zabotilis. Izdanie soderzhit illjustratsii izvestnogo britanskogo khudozhnika Ralfa Tompsona.

"Ptitsy, zveri i rodstvenniki" - eto prodolzhenie romana "Moja semja i drugie zveri" - "knigi, zavorazhivajuschej v bukvalnom smysle slova" (Sunday Times) i "samoj voskhititelnoj idillii, kakuju tolko mozhno voobrazit" (The New Yorker). S neizmennoj ljubovju, bezuprechnoj tochnostju i nepodrazhaemym jumorom Darrell rasskazyvaet o pjatiletnem prebyvanii svoej semi (v tom chisle starshego brata Larri, to est Lorensa Darrella - buduschego avtora znamenitogo "Aleksandrijskogo kvarteta") na grecheskom ostrove Korfu. Eti romany i sborniki razoshlis po miru mnogomillionnymi tirazhami, stali nastolnymi knigami uzhe u neskolkikh pokolenij chitatelej, a v Anglii dazhe voshli v shkolnuju programmu. "Trilogija o Korfu" (s techeniem vremeni razrosshajasja do shesti knig) trizhdy perenosilas na teleekran, prichem poslednij raz - v 2016-2019 gg., kogda britanskaja kompanija ITV vypustila serial "Darrelly" (v chetyrekh sezonakh), odnim iz postanovschikov kotorogo vystupil Edvard Kholl ("Abbatstvo Daunton", "Miss Marpl Agaty Kristi").

"Ptitsy, zveri i rodstvenniki" - eto prodolzhenie romana "Moja semja i drugie zveri" - "knigi, zavorazhivajuschej v bukvalnom smysle slova" (Sunday Times) i "samoj voskhititelnoj idillii, kakuju tolko mozhno voobrazit" (The New Yorker). S neizmennoj ljubovju, bezuprechnoj tochnostju i nepodrazhaemym jumorom Darrell rasskazyvaet o pjatiletnem prebyvanii svoej semi (v tom chisle starshego brata Larri, to est Lorensa Darrella - buduschego avtora znamenitogo "Aleksandrijskogo kvarteta") na grecheskom ostrove Korfu. Eti romany i sborniki razoshlis po miru mnogomillionnymi tirazhami, stali nastolnymi knigami uzhe u neskolkikh pokolenij chitatelej, a v Anglii dazhe voshli v shkolnuju programmu. "Trilogija o Korfu" (s techeniem vremeni razrosshajasja do shesti knig) trizhdy perenosilas na teleekran, prichem poslednij raz - v 2016 godu, kogda britanskaja kompanija ITV vypustila pervyj sezon seriala "Darrelly", odnim iz postanovschikov kotorogo vystupil Edvard Kholl ("Abbatstvo Daunton", "Miss Marpl Agaty Kristi"). Roman publikuetsja v novom (i vpervye - v polnom) perevode, vypolnennom Sergeem Taskom, chi perevody Toma Vulfa i Dzhona Le Karre, Stivena Kinga i Pola Ostera, Iena Makjuena, Richarda Jejtsa i Frensisa Skotta Fitsdzheralda uzhe stali klassicheskimi.

'The sky turns the colour of a jay's eye. The sea turns a deep royal purple. The mist lifts in quick, lithe ribbons, like a conjuring trick. Before us lies the island…' It's 1935, and an eccentric English family – four children, their widowed mother, and Roger the dog – arrives on the sun-soaked shores of Corfu to start a new life. For eleven-year-old Gerry Durrell, the extraordinary landscape provides the perfect playground. Its exotic fauna inspires a life-long fascination with the animal kingdom – and his much-loved memoir My Family and Other Animals. Janys Chambers' acclaimed stage adaptation was first seen at York Theatre Royal, and invites other theatre companies to make ingenious and inventive decisions, bringing to life all the inhabitants of Durrell's cherished island – whether they walk and talk, fly and squawk, crawl or swim or slither.

"Verdens bedste bog", Anders Kofoed, forfatter til Superkryb og 100 myter om dyr . England, 1935: Durrell-familien får nok af det fugtige, grå engelske klima, sælger huset og flytter til den solbeskinnede græske ø Korfu. Her opdager den yngste af de fire børn, ti-årige Gerald, glæden ved naturen og dyr: Han indsamler frøer og skildpadder, flagermus og sommerfugle, skorpioner og blæksprutter – og gennem prægtige olivenlunde og over kridhvide sandstrande forfølger Gerald sin nye interesse til både gru og glæde for resten af familien.