| Here is the riveting tale of Gerald Durrell's adventures and misadventures in the enchanted forests of Madagascar, in search of the elusive Aye-aye. Once thought to be extinct, the Aye-aye, the beast with the magic finger, still lurks, though in fast dwindling numbers, in the forests of Madagascar. Durrell's mission to help save this strange creature turns into a madcap journey in which you will meet not only the enigmatic Aye-aye, but the catlike Fosa, the Flat-tailed tortoise, the Gentle lemurs of Lac Alaotra, and the Malagasy chameleons, among others. Truly nothing escapes Durrell's sharp eye, whether he is describing the great zoma (market), the village dances, the treacherous bridges and river crossings, the strange foods and stranger music, or the vagaries of local officialdom. As the San Francisco Chronicle noted, "It is impossible for Gerald Durrell to write anything that is less than exuberant, eccentric, and amusing." And in his account of this "rescue mission", Durrell is, quite simply, at his superb best.
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Author Bio| Gerald Durrell | | Gerald Durrell was born in India, into the family that also produced the novelist Lawrence Durrell. Like his brother, Gerald avoided England, where most of the family lived, choosing instead to travel the world as a zoologist. An important figure in the world of wildlife conservation, Durrell founded a zoo on the isle of Jersey--a haven for endangered species. He was also a gifted writer; his humorous and entertaining books of autobiography, including MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS, are classics of the genre. |
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