My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell is a novel concerning an English family, the Durrells, who suddenly leave their home in Britain in order to move to the Greek island of Corfu. This book is told from the viewpoint of Gerald Durrell, the youngest member of the family, who gives a detailed account of certain incidents that are imprinted in his mind, of the family's five year stay in Corfu. Many of the anecdotes capture the most interesting of the family's encounters with the island and it's inhabitants but the main theme is of two intertwined worlds; that of animals and wildlife, with that of people. Because of Gerry and his extreme love of nature, many of his pets and family members meet frequently, resulting in chaotic situations.
             Once in Corfu, the Durrells encounter a great number of characters that are both eccentric and a little flamboyant and it is these characters on which the story is based, along with the many pets that Gerry acquires throughout his time in Greece. It is from these characters and their outlandish ways that much of the entertainment comes and to the reader, it may often seem, that even though My Family and Other Animals is a true story, that the island and its inhabitants are slightly exaggerated.
             Upon arrival in Corfu, the Durrells face a number of problems in finding a villa and understanding the Greek language. When having difficulty communicating with taxi drivers, the family meets one of the most amusing and significant characters in the story, Spiro. This individual helps the Durrells through their dilemmas in finding a suitable villa, dealing with the Customs official and generally in settling in and getting started in a new place with a new life. Throughout this time, Gerry, a young naturalist, finds much pleasure in roaming the island and discovering all of Mother Nature's creations. During these expeditions, he meets a great many people all of whom with which he s...