The Durrells is good TV, isn’t it? Easy to watch, funny, feel-good, with beautiful settings and good actors.
I heard it’s not really much like the actual family at all but that’s ok because the TV show has taken on a new life. I’ve been reading a bit about the Durrell Foundation as well, which Gerald set up on the island of Jersey in the 1960s: it aimed to protect endangered species from extinction, recognising the worrying rate at which wild species were dying out in their habitats. It was the first time a zoo took on a significant conservation role.
Some of the species that the foundation focus on can be found here and include the black lion tamarin and the pygmy hog.
Gerald Durrell’s Corfu trilogy were amongst the first grown-up books I ever read, given to me by my grandmother back in the 70s. I like the TV show very much but the books have a lot more about the actual wild animals that Gerry interacts with, as well as being very funny. Well worth reading!
Love your blog by the way!
Aw thanks, I’ve been enjoying yours this evening as well. I keep meaning to read the books – I did pick one up second hand and it’s in my ever expanding TBR pile.