| The setting of this book is the beautiful picturesque Greek island of Corfu. A young Gerald Durrell and his somewhat eccentric family set off from cold, depressing England and arrive as if in a dream on the sunny island of Corfu.This island is a veritable treasure of animal life and olive groves.In the narrative, Gerald takes the reader on his explorations of the island. With him, the reader visits old islanders and shares in their bread and olive oil, finds a scorpion and the cure for its poison and even observes a women giving birth in a room where no males are allowed!
The book is interspersed with mention of Spiro, a family friend named after the patron saint of the island, as are many male islanders.Spiro is a colourful, refreshing character who would have married the author's patient if somewhat vague mother, if he was'nt already married. However, most emphasis is placed on the explorations of the author and his findings of animal life all over the island. As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced to various interesting animals and insects such as the Trapdoor spider, Quasimodo the pigeon and a scops owl which the author keeps in his bedroom during the day and lets out to hunt at night. Most of these creatures are met with some contempt by the family, all except mother, who as mentioned previously has a most forgiving and patient nature. This provides a funny and interesting story as Larry with his head in the clouds, Leslie with his love of guns and Margo with her tendancy to acne each in turn express their disgust, horror or occasionally, affection for the animals which Gerald keeps as pets. | ||
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Plot & Themes Outdoors story Yes Exploring: - animal watching/hunting Period of greatest activity? - 1950+ Subject of Biography Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity - White Nationality - British Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 7 () Island? Yes Island: - food/shelter preoccupation Century: - 19th century Writing Style Book makes you feel? - very happy - like laughing Pictures/Illustrations? - None How much dialogue in bio? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 0-25% of book |
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