Gerry & I

"An enchanting and very funny book" Sunday Times

In 1967, Jacquie Durrell decided to describe her own experiences of living with her famous husband, Gerald Durrell and the Durrell family. This new edition has allowed her to reflect on those times and to give readers an extra glimpse of life with Gerry.

Jacquie and Gerry travelled from Africa to South America, Asia and beyond, collecting animals from the most remote corners of the world for the Zoo they planned to open together, encountering a menagerie of exotic beasts - both human and animal - along the way.

These trips, as 'glamorous' as they may have seemed, were not without their trials. She writes openly and honestly about the ups and downs of her marriage to Gerry; from the moment she first set eyes on her future husband and the trouble their relationship caused with her father, to the struggles they endured during their later years of marriage yet managing to recount her experiences with with good humour throughout. She viewed Gerry as a dreamer and it was she who urged him to write and to encourage him to give talks to the BBC and led to a number of television series, all of which enabled them financially to open up their own Zoo.

The death of Gerry’s mother and the zoo which became a financial drain on their resources, had a catastrophic effect on her husband who became depressed and took to drink. By 1976, their relationship came to an end and Jacquie left Gerry and pursued a new life on her own.

Jacquie's very personal observations on the situations in which she found herself; of holidays with Larry and his wife; of long lunches with family and friends; are told with hilarity, wit and warmth, and offers a refreshing insight to her own character, independent of the supportive and encouraging role she had always been cast in as 'Gerry's wife'.