Penguin Essentials: My Family and Other Animals

A Bewitching Account of a Magical Childhood on the Island of Corfu

My Family and Other Animals is the enchanting memoir of a rare and magical childhood by the treasured British conservationist Gerald Durrell. Seeking an escape from the grey British climate, the eccentric Durrell family—acne-ridden Margo, gun-toting Leslie, bookworm Lawrence, and budding naturalist Gerry, along with their long-suffering mother and Roger the dog—set sail for the sun-soaked island of Corfu.

But the Durrells soon find that they must share their various villas with a vibrant menagerie of local fauna, including scorpions, geckos, toads, bats, and butterflies. Recounted with immense humor and warmth, this is a celebrated classic that captures a world of innocent adventure and the joy of the natural world.