My Family and Other Animals

By: Gerald Durrell

Narrated by: Hugh Bonneville

Length: 4 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

The book is an autobiographical account of five years in the childhood of naturalist Gerald Durrell. The book is divided into three sections, marking the three villas in which the family lived on the island. Apart from Gerald (the youngest) and Larry, the family comprised their widowed mother, the gun-mad Leslie, and diet-obsessed sister Margo together with Roger the dog.

They are fiercely protected by their taxi-driver friend Spiro (Spyros "Americano" Chalikiopoulos) and mentored by the polymath Dr Theodore Stephanides who provides Gerald with his education in natural history. Other human characters, chiefly eccentric, include Gerald's private tutors, the artistic and literary visitors Larry invites to stay, and the local peasants who befriend the family. An audio treat for those young and old.

©1956 Gerald Durrell (P)2010 CSA Word

Critic reviews

"Hugh Bonneville gives a lovely reading… Delicious!" ( Daily Express)

Hugh Bonneville

Hugh Bonneville is a genius! I enjoyed his performance immensely and it made this audiobook a must-hear. He is really one of the great British actors and I have a feeling that he’s even better in radio-plays and the theater!
I must say, a good choice of an actor and one of the best in Audible.
Bravo!

Why couldn't they have the full book?

I simply cannot understand why this needed to be abridged. One of the most wonderful storytelling.

My Favorite Yet!

Hugh Bonneville is my all-time favorite narrator. I laughed so hard listening to this one!

Delightfully humerous

Thoroughly enjoyed hearing about all the warm and funny antics of Gerry and his animals and the families reaction to it all. Great descriptions....

What an enchanting story!

One of the most delightful books I have ever listened to. So full of adventure and hilarity, beautifully narrated. I will listen to it many times again I’m sure.

A Comedy Classic Comes to Life

Where does My Family and Other Animals rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is at the top of my comedy "love list."All of Gerald Durrell's books have been on my shelves since I was 8 (some 40+ years!). As I was disappointed in what television had produced, I was hesitant to have a listen to this audiobook version. Happily, Hugh Bonneville has thoroughly captured the essence of the wit and beautifully turned phrases. Naturalists and humorists will love this classic. Mr. Bonneville's range of characterization is just wonderful. He obviously loves the work as much as any Durrell fan. As much as I enjoyed Hugh Bonneville as the Earl of Grantham in the popular Downton Abbey, his vast talent for comedy had no occasion to shine. Here it does. It positively sparkles.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Spiro is my favorite character as he's much like a large mastiff taking charge of a gaggle of silly ducklings. Spiro has come to life and is as endearing and animated as Gerry Durrell wrote him. Margo is screechingly funny. Mother is vacantly aware, as always. Theo and all the others... It's impossible to pick a favorite! You'll be laughing out loud.

Have you listened to any of Hugh Bonneville’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first time I've had the pleasure. But I'll definitely be looking for more from Mr. Bonneville in hopes that he chooses comedies over dramas.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Ohhh. I'm not sure any director or producer could do this series of books justice, particularly in this age of huge "blockbuster budgets". Meaningful family cinema and television seem to be falling along the wayside. A long, long TV series in the vein of Larkrise to Candleford or Downton Abbey would be lovely. I actually thought of Gerald Durrell when I watched "Dean Spanley" and wished, at the time, that Toa Fraser would try a Durrell movie. Something shot on location in sleepy, sunny Greece. Something that takes it time, gets all the lines, gets the costumes, scenery, wit and "times" just right. I would love to see this series with the child, Gerry, as the focal point and his perspective the dominant one, as in the books.

Any additional comments?

Truly funny and candid descriptions of the politics of family life will be familiar to many listeners, regardless of the era. Lovely descriptions of nature and the wonder we each felt as children when we first "discovered" the microcosms will bring back childhood memories. I highly recommend this refreshing listening as it will transport you!

My Family And Other Animals.

I loved this book so much! The story line is so creative and the work man ship is perfect for adventurers' like me. 5 stars. For My Family And Other Animals.

Fun story from an amazingly bygone era

First of all, I chose to listen to the reading by Hugh Bonneville, of Downton Abbey fame, rather than the other reading that had far more listeners. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Bonneville’s performance and can’t really imagine liking another better.

As I listened to this story of an apparently upper class British widow who moved with her four children to the Greek isle of Corfu in the late 1930s, what struck me again and again was how thoroughly just about everything on this family’s way of life has disappeared. The relationship of the family to the people of the island, the freedom of the mother to control how her child is educated, the carrying of random animals across national borders, the attitude towards guns, and most of all, the complete license of the young Gerri, the narrator (about 11 when they move, if I recall correctly) to wander around unsupervised, interact with adults, have a say in family matters, take himself alone by boat (handmade by his inexpert brother) to wherever he wanted, bring animal specimens both dead and living to incorporate into the household … it’s a way of life that was so recent yet is inconceivable to most western minds.

This was my biggest takeaway from the book. The story is light listening of a sort that one can tire of — the quirky family memoir. But it’s a good example of the type and quite entertaining.

Love it, but please mark as Abridged!

This book is such a delight, but I was so disappointed when I realized that this was an abridged version. It did not say anywhere in the description that it was abridged, which is a bit dishonest in my opinion. Although I loved Hugh Bonneville's narration, I recommend spending the credit on the full length version of the book!

Listened Straight Thru

The funny antics of the family antics of the Durrell family, combined with the exceptional narration of Downtown Abbey's Hugh Bonneville, is a wonderful listen. Found myself smiling and even chuckling out loud. This is a mood lightener during the holiday season or anytime at all.