Gerald Durrell (1925–1995) was a famous English zoologist and traveler, and one of the iconic figures of the 20th century. Durrell's books have long been part of the golden fund of world literature and are highly popular with readers around the globe.
Obsessed since childhood with the idea of creating his own zoo, Durrell leased an estate on the island of Jersey, where he housed the first animals he brought from West Africa. However, for representatives of South American fauna, Durrell, his wife Jacquie, and his secretary Sophie had to travel to Argentina. "The Whispering Land" describes their eight-month journey across the country, involving hours of driving along the coast in search of penguins, fur seals, and the main goal of the expedition — elephant seals. Naturally, along the way, Durrell and his companions encountered other wildlife inhabiting the Argentine pampas: from insects to parrots, from armadillos to guans. Some of them later also became residents of the Jersey Zoo.
"Menagerie Manor" is a collection of stories about life at the sanctuary founded by Durrell. From the notes of the renowned zoologist, you will learn about the intricacies of running a zoo, the arrival of long-awaited offspring among its residents, and, of course, the touching and sometimes amusing interactions between the animals and the people who cared for them.
This edition contains illustrations by the famous British artist Ralph Thompson.
Author: Gerald Durrell
Illustrations: Ralph Thompson
Pages: 400 (offset). Hardcover
Dimensions: 220x155x28 mm
