Menagerie Manor
By Gerald Durrell 

     If you have a large collection of animals living in your sister's garden in Bournemouth and the local council is breathing down your neck, the best thing to do is buy a zoo to put them in. This is easier said than done but when a house becomes vacant it seems like a dream come true, but this is just the beginning of a very demanding way of life. The late Gerald Durrell wouldn't have changed it for the world, and this is the story of how the Jersey Zoo was set up in 1959 and is still thriving today. As usual there are some hilarious accounts in here, such as the man who thought the lion's den was the gents, the monkey who loved to hug a large ginger guinea pig as a surrogate mother, and the unforgettable night when the tapir escaped and went on a rampage. Read too about the daily life of the zoo, the daft things visitors say and discover more about the many animals it houses and its vital conservation work.

     Anything written by Gerald Durrell is hugely enjoyable (that magical phrase - the highest praise I give) and this is no exception. I love the chapter headings, quotations from various bizarre letters he received, and his patient approach to the daily problems that best the zoo owner and his dedication to conservation. The only trouble is that there isn't enough of it, and I wonder why he wrote such a short book, as surely there was so much more to say about it all. A unique behind-the-scenes look at this special place.