This memoir is a humorous account of Gerald Durrell’s five years in Corfu as a child. He tells of his explorations of the island’s rich flora and fauna, his fascination with nature and his encounters with animals, encouraged by a friend of the family, Theodore Stephanides. He also describes his eccentric family, each member with their own unique quirks. This book is truly an ode to nature, to being outdoors and to being together. It is full of funny anecdotes and celebrates the joy of living. More than one passage in the book made me laugh out loud. A beautiful book from a seemingly lost era.
“They say,’ she announced – ‘they say that when you get old, as I am, your body slows down. I don’t believe it. No, I think that is quite wrong. I have a theory that you do not slow down at all, but that life slows down for you. You understand me ? Everything becomes languid, as it were, and you can notice so much more when things are in slow motion. The things you see ! The extraordinary things that happen all around you, that you never even suspected before! It is really a delightful adventure, quite delightful !”