From the age of two, Gerald Durrell was fascinated by zoology, over the years assembling a large, and not altogether savory, collection of pets, strays, and specimens. As his unofficial zoo grew, so did his family's discomfort. The solution was to find another, more permanent outlet for his passion. So in 1945 he joined Whipsnadea new concept in open-range animal exhibitsas a student keeper, with Albert the lion, Babs the polar bear, and a baby Pre David's deer among his first charges. In this entertaining history, he recaptures all the passion that permeated those early years, while conveying his insight into and affection for both four- and two-footed creatures. This is Durrell at his zoophilic best.
