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The Mockery Bird
The tiny island paradise of Zenkali is turned upside down when a civil war breaks out, and the island is invaded not only by the British Military, but by the world press and a fanatical group of conservationists - and all because of a silly bird.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
About the author
Gerald Durrell
233 books1,729 followersGerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell was born in India in 1925. His elder siblings are Lawrence Durrell, Leslie Durrell, and Margaret Durrell. His family settled on Corfu when Gerald was a boy and he spent his time studying its wildlife. He relates these experiences in the trilogy beginning with My Family And Other Animals, and continuing with Birds, Beasts, And Relatives and The Garden Of The Gods. In his books he writes with wry humour and great perception about both the humans and the animals he meets.
On leaving Corfu he returned to England to work on the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. His adventures there are told with characteristic energy in Beasts In My Belfry. A few years later, Gerald began organising his own animal-collecting expeditions. The first, to the Cameroons, was followed by expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina and Sierra Leone. He recounts these experiences in a number of books, including The Drunken Forest. Gerald also visited many countries while shooting various television series, including An Amateur Naturalist. In 1958 Gerald Durrell realised a lifelong dream when he set up the Jersey Zoological Park, followed a few years later by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.
Gerald was married twice; Jacquie Durrell (1951-1979), Lee Durrell (1979-1995).
Gerald Durrell's style is exuberant, passionate and acutely observed. He died in 1995.
On leaving Corfu he returned to England to work on the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. His adventures there are told with characteristic energy in Beasts In My Belfry. A few years later, Gerald began organising his own animal-collecting expeditions. The first, to the Cameroons, was followed by expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina and Sierra Leone. He recounts these experiences in a number of books, including The Drunken Forest. Gerald also visited many countries while shooting various television series, including An Amateur Naturalist. In 1958 Gerald Durrell realised a lifelong dream when he set up the Jersey Zoological Park, followed a few years later by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.
Gerald was married twice; Jacquie Durrell (1951-1979), Lee Durrell (1979-1995).
Gerald Durrell's style is exuberant, passionate and acutely observed. He died in 1995.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 15, 2019
Zenkali è “un’isola verde, rigogliosa e così remota che sembra non avere alcun contatto con il mondo“, è un paradiso tropicale ma anche una concentrazione di personaggi buffi e improbabili.
“Quel posto non è che una cacca di mosca sulla carta geografica“, precisa il narratore, eppure sarà teatro di una vicenda ingarbugliata e esemplare: la lotta tra la salvaguardia di una specie in via di estinzione (l’uccello beffardo: ah-ah-ah) e l’inarrestabile marcia del progresso umano che si esprime qui nel progetto di costruzione di una pista di atterraggio (ebbene sì!).
Con lo stile brillante e scoppiettante che lo distingue, Durrell riesce a costruire una storia a tratti esilarante e nel contempo a descrivere perfettamente le meraviglie di una natura incontaminata, tanto che a tratti sembra davvero di esservi immersi.
Ma insieme alla favola c’è la morale. Ogni cosa in questo nostro mondo è in relazione con tutte le altre, gli esseri umani dipendono dalla natura e ne sono parte. Il celebre ‘battito delle ali di una farfalla’ capace di provocare un uragano dall’altra parte del mondo è stato già dimostrato dalla “teoria del caos” e viene qui espresso più poeticamente in forma di racconto.
Ma la sostanza è la stessa: “la protezione della natura, la protezione dell’ambiente equivale alla protezione dell’umanità“.
E infine: “ non è un grande insegnamento per tutti noi sapere che le nostre fortune dipendono innanzitutto da una farfalla?“
Una lezione di umiltà oggi quanto mai necessaria.
“Quel posto non è che una cacca di mosca sulla carta geografica“, precisa il narratore, eppure sarà teatro di una vicenda ingarbugliata e esemplare: la lotta tra la salvaguardia di una specie in via di estinzione (l’uccello beffardo: ah-ah-ah) e l’inarrestabile marcia del progresso umano che si esprime qui nel progetto di costruzione di una pista di atterraggio (ebbene sì!).
Con lo stile brillante e scoppiettante che lo distingue, Durrell riesce a costruire una storia a tratti esilarante e nel contempo a descrivere perfettamente le meraviglie di una natura incontaminata, tanto che a tratti sembra davvero di esservi immersi.
Ma insieme alla favola c’è la morale. Ogni cosa in questo nostro mondo è in relazione con tutte le altre, gli esseri umani dipendono dalla natura e ne sono parte. Il celebre ‘battito delle ali di una farfalla’ capace di provocare un uragano dall’altra parte del mondo è stato già dimostrato dalla “teoria del caos” e viene qui espresso più poeticamente in forma di racconto.
Ma la sostanza è la stessa: “la protezione della natura, la protezione dell’ambiente equivale alla protezione dell’umanità“.
E infine: “ non è un grande insegnamento per tutti noi sapere che le nostre fortune dipendono innanzitutto da una farfalla?“
Una lezione di umiltà oggi quanto mai necessaria.
July 5, 2021
Un libro diverso dal solito, che affronta il tema importante della tutela della natura in maniera atipica, con sorprendente ironia e spunti ilari, talvolta con esagerazioni al limite dell'assurdo. Sicuramente all'avanguardia all'epoca in cui fu pubblicato, presenta ancora spunti di attualità. Stile fresco e scorrevole, non stanca mai e invoglia a proseguire verso l'inevitabile lieto fine!
July 4, 2021
Bello, bello, bello. Un libro da riscoprire perché, a parte qualche espressione poco politically correct, è un libro che parla di ambiente in un periodo in cui ancora non molti erano sensibilizzati verso degli ecosistemi così complessi e autosufficienti. Sono contentissima di essermi imbattuta in questo libro per caso, mentre cercavo dei romanzi con animali esotici per un GdL. Gerald Durrell lo avevo amato già con La mia famiglia e altri animali, ma questo romanzo è proprio stupendo. Personaggi divertenti, situazioni esilaranti. Un modo leggero per parlare di problemi reali, sempre più minacciosi a causa della globalizzazione.
Lo farei adottare come testo di narrativa nelle scuole medie.
Lo farei adottare come testo di narrativa nelle scuole medie.
March 9, 2024
Originally published on my blog here in November 1998.
Zenkali, the imaginary tropical island on which The Mockery Bird is set, is described by Gerald Durrell as a place which attracts eccentrics, people who wander the world as square pegs in round holes until they end up on Zenkali and find themselves at home. These eccentric characters, distilled from people Durrell himself met on his own travels, are the principal charm of this ecological fable. They provide a variety of comic viewpoints on life, just as some of their originals do in Durrell's books about his animal collecting.
The story of The Mockery Bird concerns the rediscovery of the bird of the title, believed long extinct, in a remote valley that will soon be flooded as the result of a hydroelectric scheme. This naturally causes an immense political furore, particularly since the mockery bird is the ancestral god of the larger of the two main tribes on the island, which recently gained independence from Britain.
The Mockery Bird is a very funny, warm and uplifting novel, rather better than Durrell's earlier work of adult fiction, Rosie is My Relative. It helps if you share some of his ecological concerns, but today there are few people who do not at least pay lip service to them.
Zenkali, the imaginary tropical island on which The Mockery Bird is set, is described by Gerald Durrell as a place which attracts eccentrics, people who wander the world as square pegs in round holes until they end up on Zenkali and find themselves at home. These eccentric characters, distilled from people Durrell himself met on his own travels, are the principal charm of this ecological fable. They provide a variety of comic viewpoints on life, just as some of their originals do in Durrell's books about his animal collecting.
The story of The Mockery Bird concerns the rediscovery of the bird of the title, believed long extinct, in a remote valley that will soon be flooded as the result of a hydroelectric scheme. This naturally causes an immense political furore, particularly since the mockery bird is the ancestral god of the larger of the two main tribes on the island, which recently gained independence from Britain.
The Mockery Bird is a very funny, warm and uplifting novel, rather better than Durrell's earlier work of adult fiction, Rosie is My Relative. It helps if you share some of his ecological concerns, but today there are few people who do not at least pay lip service to them.
May 16, 2018
Debo confesar que al principio me cortó un poco el rollo el hecho de que este libro no estuviera contando en primera persona ninguna peripecia de Gerald Durrell. Los primeros capítulos estaba esperando que apareciera el naturalista de un momento a otro hasta que me dí cuenta de que era ficción.
Es una buena novela de aventuras y me gusta el mensaje de proteger la naturaleza (tanto fauna como flora) y el argumento resulta realista. Lo que más me ha gustado, como siempre con este autor, son los personajes. Son todos muy distintos y bien coloridos y llenos de personalidad. La perspicacia de Durrell al describir a las personas es fantástica. En general, un libro recomendable para el verano si te gustan las aventuras.
Es una buena novela de aventuras y me gusta el mensaje de proteger la naturaleza (tanto fauna como flora) y el argumento resulta realista. Lo que más me ha gustado, como siempre con este autor, son los personajes. Son todos muy distintos y bien coloridos y llenos de personalidad. La perspicacia de Durrell al describir a las personas es fantástica. En general, un libro recomendable para el verano si te gustan las aventuras.
July 24, 2021
My least favorite book Durrell wrote, I mostly skim read it. 🤷🏻♀️
March 13, 2024
The Mockery Bird by Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell is my favourite author. I have gone out of my way to acquire his books. This particular book, I requested my aunt in US to purchase it there and bring it for me because it is no longer available in India. So when my aunt came to attend a wedding, it was double dhamaka for me. Firstly, her visit after for so many years and more than that it was the packet she gave me with four rare (old second hand) books by the author. Yay!
Mockery Bird is a book written in a light-hearted manner to bring out the importance of conservation. Though the story is fictional but all the things described in it had happened or were happening in different parts of the world. The author tries to lay emphasis on the interdependence of the species, whether it is the birds, animals, trees or insects. If one species goes extinct, it spoils the equilibrium and may result in the devastation of the other.
The story is set in a time when the isolated island country of Zenkali was gaining independence from the British rule. The tall, charming, blonde Peter Foxglove arrives in Zenkali as the new assistant to HM Political Advisor. Within a few days of setting foot on the island, Peter and his girlfriend Audrey, accidentally come across the Mockery Bird which was presumed to be extinct, in the deep forest. Not only this, the Mockery Bird was held sacred by the Fangouas tribe so with the rediscovery of the bird, the sentiments of this tribe start running wild.
The island of Zenkali turns upside down with the invasion of foreign dignitaries, a bunch of conservationists and the world press, when the Zenkalis are amidst a civil war over the Mockery Bird. All these people had arrived on the island to witness the inauguration of the hydroelectric power plant but things take a different turn.
With the witty and brilliant style that distinguishes him, Durrell has constructed a story which is hilarious, has all the eccentric characters of the world come together to entertain you and leave you in splits of laughter. Durrell also describes the untouched beauty of an island which is not contaminated by the humans and brings home the importance of wildlife conservation.
It is a must read book especially for Durrell fans!
Gerald Durrell is my favourite author. I have gone out of my way to acquire his books. This particular book, I requested my aunt in US to purchase it there and bring it for me because it is no longer available in India. So when my aunt came to attend a wedding, it was double dhamaka for me. Firstly, her visit after for so many years and more than that it was the packet she gave me with four rare (old second hand) books by the author. Yay!
Mockery Bird is a book written in a light-hearted manner to bring out the importance of conservation. Though the story is fictional but all the things described in it had happened or were happening in different parts of the world. The author tries to lay emphasis on the interdependence of the species, whether it is the birds, animals, trees or insects. If one species goes extinct, it spoils the equilibrium and may result in the devastation of the other.
The story is set in a time when the isolated island country of Zenkali was gaining independence from the British rule. The tall, charming, blonde Peter Foxglove arrives in Zenkali as the new assistant to HM Political Advisor. Within a few days of setting foot on the island, Peter and his girlfriend Audrey, accidentally come across the Mockery Bird which was presumed to be extinct, in the deep forest. Not only this, the Mockery Bird was held sacred by the Fangouas tribe so with the rediscovery of the bird, the sentiments of this tribe start running wild.
The island of Zenkali turns upside down with the invasion of foreign dignitaries, a bunch of conservationists and the world press, when the Zenkalis are amidst a civil war over the Mockery Bird. All these people had arrived on the island to witness the inauguration of the hydroelectric power plant but things take a different turn.
With the witty and brilliant style that distinguishes him, Durrell has constructed a story which is hilarious, has all the eccentric characters of the world come together to entertain you and leave you in splits of laughter. Durrell also describes the untouched beauty of an island which is not contaminated by the humans and brings home the importance of wildlife conservation.
It is a must read book especially for Durrell fans!
September 7, 2016
At first I was disappointed by this book since it was not written in the “I” form like most of Durrell´s books, and it was not as laugh-aloud funny as most of them.
But when I got into it, I began to appreciate it better. It is the story of Peter Foxglove, who is sent out as an assistant political advisor to the island of Zenkali, The colourful King of Zelkali is called “Kingy”, and the cast of the book is composed of various other eccentric and amusing characters, including a female Reverend who is not exactly meek and mild.
There are two opposing tribes on the island called the Ginkas and the Fangouas. The God of the Fangouas was a curious bird termed the Mockery Bird, which had been eaten to extinction by the French. (The French are notoriously fond of their food.)
At the same time as the Mockery Bird became extinct, a peculiar tree, called the Ombu tree produced a fruit that formed an important part of the Mockery Bird´s diet: These trees also vanished except for one old tree.
There is a “baddy” in the book too, the evil Looja, and a disgusting unkempt scientist, Droom.
The British Government is planning to turn the island into an important military installation, and this will involve building a dam and an airfield.
Peter gets together with a sympathetic girl called Audrey and together they make an amazing discovery involving the Mockery Birds and Ombu trees.
This turned out to be quite an entertaining and enjoyable story with a moral associated with wildlife preservation, which was one of Durrell´s areas of expertise.
I should warn you that some of the words used by Durrell are not today comme il faut, or politically correct.
The book is actually quite good, just not hilarious like many of Durrell´s previous writings.
But when I got into it, I began to appreciate it better. It is the story of Peter Foxglove, who is sent out as an assistant political advisor to the island of Zenkali, The colourful King of Zelkali is called “Kingy”, and the cast of the book is composed of various other eccentric and amusing characters, including a female Reverend who is not exactly meek and mild.
There are two opposing tribes on the island called the Ginkas and the Fangouas. The God of the Fangouas was a curious bird termed the Mockery Bird, which had been eaten to extinction by the French. (The French are notoriously fond of their food.)
At the same time as the Mockery Bird became extinct, a peculiar tree, called the Ombu tree produced a fruit that formed an important part of the Mockery Bird´s diet: These trees also vanished except for one old tree.
There is a “baddy” in the book too, the evil Looja, and a disgusting unkempt scientist, Droom.
The British Government is planning to turn the island into an important military installation, and this will involve building a dam and an airfield.
Peter gets together with a sympathetic girl called Audrey and together they make an amazing discovery involving the Mockery Birds and Ombu trees.
This turned out to be quite an entertaining and enjoyable story with a moral associated with wildlife preservation, which was one of Durrell´s areas of expertise.
I should warn you that some of the words used by Durrell are not today comme il faut, or politically correct.
The book is actually quite good, just not hilarious like many of Durrell´s previous writings.
July 21, 2016
I'm quite a Gerald Durrell fan, having read all his books. When one is a prolific writer - he wrote one book a year purely just to make money - you expect quality to dip and a Durrell does have a handful of weak books. The Mockery Bird is his second work of fiction and not one of his best.
The story is a cautionary tale about the delicate environment. The mockery bird's droppings help sustain a species of moth and a specific plant and it's up to an environmentalist to stop the bird from being destroyed.
The message is clear but the reader has to wade through cliched situations, characters and dialogue in order to understand that eco-systems can't be destroyed. Approach this book with caution.
The story is a cautionary tale about the delicate environment. The mockery bird's droppings help sustain a species of moth and a specific plant and it's up to an environmentalist to stop the bird from being destroyed.
The message is clear but the reader has to wade through cliched situations, characters and dialogue in order to understand that eco-systems can't be destroyed. Approach this book with caution.
September 30, 2012
Non é un capolavoro intendiamoci, ma come Durrell sa trasmettere con la sua scrittura il grande amore e rispetto che ha (aveva, morto nel 1995) per il mondo vegetale ed animale in pochi lo sanno fare.
Sarebbe bello che tanti progetti di scempi e distruzioni perpetrati dalla nostra specie alle spese di tutte le altre avessero un finale come in questo libro, ma purtroppo la realtà é un'altra.
Noi, specie homo sapiens, questo mondo non ce lo meritiamo, no proprio no.
Ma arriverà quel giorno che imploderemo e resteranno, uniche forme di vita, insetti e batteri che festeggeranno, e brindando, con quello che brindano insetti e batteri, diranno: "e anche questi son passati, adesso al lavoro ché c'abbiam da ricostruire tutto quanto! evviva!"
Sarebbe bello che tanti progetti di scempi e distruzioni perpetrati dalla nostra specie alle spese di tutte le altre avessero un finale come in questo libro, ma purtroppo la realtà é un'altra.
Noi, specie homo sapiens, questo mondo non ce lo meritiamo, no proprio no.
Ma arriverà quel giorno che imploderemo e resteranno, uniche forme di vita, insetti e batteri che festeggeranno, e brindando, con quello che brindano insetti e batteri, diranno: "e anche questi son passati, adesso al lavoro ché c'abbiam da ricostruire tutto quanto! evviva!"
January 15, 2015
Jak si tak vzpomínám, snažila jsem se tuto knihu číst už kdysi dřív, ale asi pro ni nebyl ten správný čas. Ten nastal až nyní a musím říct, že jsem si ji skutečně užívala. Kéž by bylo na světě co nejméně lidí jako je Looja a co nejvíce jako Foxglove, Hannibal, Králík a Audrey. P.S. Bez Droomů by to nejspíš taky nešlo.
March 6, 2019
Книгу я скачала на флібусті з дивною обкладинкою, але так називалася і значилася вона як остання частина серії "Моя сім'я та інші звірі". У книжці виявилися 8 оповідань Даррелла. Деякі з них були про звірів, одне і правда про маму, яка надумала вийти заміж. Ще кілька про мандрівки Даррелла і одне, останнє, дуже мене здивувало і неприємно вразило.
Чудові і дотепні про свиню Есмеральду, сукні міс Бут-Уїчерлі, стареньких мешканців будинку на півдні США, і звісно про маму.
Оповідання про Людвіга я не зрозуміла, надто воно снобське і зарозуміле.
Оповідання "Суд присяжних" і "Відставка" не дотепні, але по-своєму цікаві.
Але останнє, про священика, який розбещував хлопчиків і про цього папугу зовсім мене вибило з колії. Може десь хтось і подумав, що це так смішно, але воно огидне.
Підсумовуючи, скажу, що я не знайшла такої книжки з таким складом оповідань і такою обкладинкою в продажі. Не знаю, хто і за яким принципом скомпонував їх, може статися, що такої книжки зовсім не існує.
Раджу лише деякі оповідання, вся збірка не є найкращою книжкою для читання.
Чудові і дотепні про свиню Есмеральду, сукні міс Бут-Уїчерлі, стареньких мешканців будинку на півдні США, і звісно про маму.
Оповідання про Людвіга я не зрозуміла, надто воно снобське і зарозуміле.
Оповідання "Суд присяжних" і "Відставка" не дотепні, але по-своєму цікаві.
Але останнє, про священика, який розбещував хлопчиків і про цього папугу зовсім мене вибило з колії. Може десь хтось і подумав, що це так смішно, але воно огидне.
Підсумовуючи, скажу, що я не знайшла такої книжки з таким складом оповідань і такою обкладинкою в продажі. Не знаю, хто і за яким принципом скомпонував їх, може статися, що такої книжки зовсім не існує.
Раджу лише деякі оповідання, вся збірка не є найкращою книжкою для читання.
February 13, 2018
Посещение Маскаренских островов могло побудить Даррелла к написанию истории о птицах с острова Зенкали. Придуманный Джеральдом участок суши наполнился самобытными племенами, исчезающими животными и растениями, поставленными перед угрозой разрушительного воздействия белого человека на природу. Планируется построить аэродром, для чего сперва будут возведены плотина и электростанция. Это означает затопление обширных территорий. Всё бы ничего, не учти Даррелл ещё один важный момент, показывающий взаимную связь процессов на планете. Стоит внести изменения, как местные жители столкнутся с катастрофой, способной сделать их жизнь невыносимой.
(c) Trounin
(c) Trounin
June 10, 2022
È una favola ecologista, condita dalla scrittura vivace di Gerald Durrell e piena di situazioni e dialoghi divertenti. Una storia scritta in modo leggero, ma non banale. Una piccola isola tropicale, vero paradiso di quiete e bellezza, sta per essere sconvolta dalla costruzione di una diga e di una pista d’atterraggio. La scoperta di un uccello che si credeva estinto metterà il progetto in discussione. In questo romanzo Durrell pone questioni estremamente attuali e fa riflettere su come la vita, sia animale che vegetale, sia intrecciata in modi talvolta indecifrabili e sui guasti di una visione antropocentrica di mero sfruttamento dell’ambiente.
October 26, 2025
to be honest, I was a lil disappointed when I realised this was fictional...but as I went on, it had every bit of classic durrell feel.
You can trace the characters, that come along, to real life people, who appear in durrell's other books like the captain Pappas is based on captain creech , kingy is clearly the king wawa of Cameron and so on...and the mockery bird ...the amela tree inspired from dodo and tambalacoque tree(dodo tree) of moritius ...it's fictional but very much real...and the events development vs conservation is an ongoing row, if only they had a happy ending as in this book :')
You can trace the characters, that come along, to real life people, who appear in durrell's other books like the captain Pappas is based on captain creech , kingy is clearly the king wawa of Cameron and so on...and the mockery bird ...the amela tree inspired from dodo and tambalacoque tree(dodo tree) of moritius ...it's fictional but very much real...and the events development vs conservation is an ongoing row, if only they had a happy ending as in this book :')
May 5, 2017
Loved it! Despite the time it was written, it does a good job going head-to-head with the colonial mindset (though there are some problematic things here and there) as well as against the colonial takeover of nature for our own uses. It's a delightful, funny mystery that weaves in environmentalism and the necessity of each species to its habitat.
May 20, 2022
Read this in 2012. Re-read this week and couldn't get beyond page 60. The book has not aged well and I felt very uncomfortable with the language used. Durrell is also much better writing about animals than people.
September 16, 2022
Absolutely loved this book! Quite a departure from what I was expecting. Durrell usually writes about his adventures with animals. This book is about ecology. It's an explanation of the concept, but told in a very humorous way.
May 4, 2020
A very pleasant read.
September 15, 2020
Refreshing reading with a strong message, funny and serious.
January 3, 2021
not just for animal lovers; beautifully written - about the people as well as the animals
July 28, 2021
3.5-4/5
September 13, 2021
En virkelig sjov bog om et meget vigtigt emne!
November 21, 2022
Molto divertente, nonché molto istruttivo e attuale sull'importanza della tutela dell'ambiente.
March 4, 2014
The four star rating doesn't necessarily reflect the quality of the book, more of the enjoyment I got reading it.
I have read several of Gerald Durrell's books, and have enjoyed them all. All but this one have been real accounts of his time in foreign lands in the 40's and 50's collecting animals for his zoo. So that was what I was expecting when I opened this book.
Instead, this is a work of fiction. Written in 1981, but with the feeling of the 1950's, it is set in a fictional island, Zenkali, where the Indian and Pacific oceans meet. It is a placed currently administered by Britain, but at the point of achieving self government. It is ruled by King Tamalawala III, known as "Kingy" by his people. Two tribes on the island worship different gods, one the dolphin, and the other the Mockery Bird, now extinct since the previous French rulers had hunted it for food. The island is populated by some of the most eccentric and hilarious characters you could imagine. The British Govenor and his wife, the reverend of the local church, the various political characters.
The plot revolves around the arrival of Peter Foxglove to be the assistant of Hannibal Oliphant, Kingy's Political Advisor. With self-government about to happen, the island had done a deal to build an airstrip to allow British troops to be based there, and would need to flood a valley to build a hydro-electric dam to provide a reliable electric supply. Shortly after Peter's arrival, he visits the valley that will be flooded, and finds 15 pairs of Mockery birds.
Pandemonium ensues - with environmentalists, journalists, religious leaders, politicians etc from all over the world all thrown for a loop. When the birds are connected to the lifecyle of the trees that make up the entire economy of the island, how can the airstrip and dam project go ahead?
This was a laugh out loud funny book for me in several places. The characters absolutely made the book. While the story was a little out there in places, Durrell comments at the end that all of these made up creatures and their lifecycles are based on even stranger true occurrances from nature.
I have read several of Gerald Durrell's books, and have enjoyed them all. All but this one have been real accounts of his time in foreign lands in the 40's and 50's collecting animals for his zoo. So that was what I was expecting when I opened this book.
Instead, this is a work of fiction. Written in 1981, but with the feeling of the 1950's, it is set in a fictional island, Zenkali, where the Indian and Pacific oceans meet. It is a placed currently administered by Britain, but at the point of achieving self government. It is ruled by King Tamalawala III, known as "Kingy" by his people. Two tribes on the island worship different gods, one the dolphin, and the other the Mockery Bird, now extinct since the previous French rulers had hunted it for food. The island is populated by some of the most eccentric and hilarious characters you could imagine. The British Govenor and his wife, the reverend of the local church, the various political characters.
The plot revolves around the arrival of Peter Foxglove to be the assistant of Hannibal Oliphant, Kingy's Political Advisor. With self-government about to happen, the island had done a deal to build an airstrip to allow British troops to be based there, and would need to flood a valley to build a hydro-electric dam to provide a reliable electric supply. Shortly after Peter's arrival, he visits the valley that will be flooded, and finds 15 pairs of Mockery birds.
Pandemonium ensues - with environmentalists, journalists, religious leaders, politicians etc from all over the world all thrown for a loop. When the birds are connected to the lifecyle of the trees that make up the entire economy of the island, how can the airstrip and dam project go ahead?
This was a laugh out loud funny book for me in several places. The characters absolutely made the book. While the story was a little out there in places, Durrell comments at the end that all of these made up creatures and their lifecycles are based on even stranger true occurrances from nature.
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October 28, 2011Bienvenidos a Zenkali, una isla paradisíaca llena de personajes excéntricos y entrañables, como Reyete, el extravagante monarca; la reverenda Longnecker, dispuesta a aprender acerca de cualquier materia que pueda resultarle de utilidad, desde el soplado de cristal hasta la construcción de granadas de mano; Mr. Damien, el encargado del periódico local, que se imprime con tantos fallos y erratas que es más un chiste que un medio de comunicación; el siniestro y manipulador Looja; o el doctor Fellugona, que cuida del último y solitario árbol ombú que queda en la isla. A todos ellos, y a muchos más, conocerá Peter, el protagonista, cuando lo envíen a Zenkali como ayudante del gobernador. Pero es un momento muy delicado: de pronto, a alguien se le ha ocurrido la idea de construir un aeropuerto que cambiará para siempre la vida de Zenkali y sus habitantes... ¿será para bien, o para mal? ¿Hasta qué punto alterará la nueva construcción el futuro de la isla? Sólo el pájaro burlón, una especie autóctona de Zenkali, que fue adorada por una tribu nativa en tiempos pasados y que los colonizadores cazaron hasta extinguirla, tiene la respuesta.... ---> Sigue leyendo esta y otras reseñas en http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.com
February 1, 2013
One of those few novels where the cover design so completely captures the sprit of the book. A tropical island of vibrant colour and cartoon characters, with a whiff of romance, and the outlandish beauty of creation. In fact, you could probably get away with purchasing the cover alone and you'd have a pretty comprehensive understanding of this delightful read, as the blurb on the inside cover rather unnecessarily provides the complete plot!
It's standard Durrell - impossibly larger than life characters, engaging storyline, rich descriptive language of food and nature, humourous dialogue, and politically incorrect (somewhat paternalistic) caricatures. But all wrapped up in a passion for the preservation of the natural world, and a childlike wonder in the beauty, complexity and interdependence of the world we live in. A lovely read.
It's standard Durrell - impossibly larger than life characters, engaging storyline, rich descriptive language of food and nature, humourous dialogue, and politically incorrect (somewhat paternalistic) caricatures. But all wrapped up in a passion for the preservation of the natural world, and a childlike wonder in the beauty, complexity and interdependence of the world we live in. A lovely read.
September 1, 2016
At first sight a picturesque satire depicting a tropical paradise on the island of Zenkali. But after a few pages, a reader starts to dive into deeper and ageless issues our mankind has always faced -- intrigues, power, self-profit etc. These catches of our society are even more painful for a reader when present in such a sacred thing as nature and its protection.
Although this book concerns important and serious matter; it's still funny, witted and full of beautiful descriptions that are easily visualised in a reader's head.
Although this book concerns important and serious matter; it's still funny, witted and full of beautiful descriptions that are easily visualised in a reader's head.
April 12, 2023
A lot of the langauge and tropes are alas a product of it's time. However it is also strikingly anti colonialist and anti missionary as well which was enjoyable. Putting these aside, the whole plot and crisis of the book is quite frankly what an animal conservationist like me day dreams about and I greatly enjoyed seeing it all play out.
Also, Gerald Durrell has managed to create that likeable young male protagonists that so many authors try their hands at and instead turn up with an honestly sexist failure.
So that was a welcome change as well.
Also, Gerald Durrell has managed to create that likeable young male protagonists that so many authors try their hands at and instead turn up with an honestly sexist failure.
So that was a welcome change as well.
March 22, 2010
If you like Gerald Durrell, you'll love this. I've read a lot by him and didn't even know he'd written a novel...so was delighted to find one existed.
As usual, Gerald combines very quirky characters with his love of animals and ecology. His sense of humor shines through and makes this an enjoyable read. It doesn't take itself too seriously. I recommended it to friends and three people have read it since...and all loved it!
As usual, Gerald combines very quirky characters with his love of animals and ecology. His sense of humor shines through and makes this an enjoyable read. It doesn't take itself too seriously. I recommended it to friends and three people have read it since...and all loved it!
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