The Evolution of Gerald Durrell

In The Evolution of Gerald Durrell: A Naturalist’s Critical Biography, Mary Sanders Pollock revisits the life and work of Gerald Durrell, one of the most significant environmentalist figures of the 20th century. This new biography tracks Durrell’s evolution from a free-range childhood on Corfu through his time in Africa, South America, and the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Durrell’s early work is described in his numerous travel narratives, but his conservation activities culminated in “the stationary ark,” a conservation zoo on the Isle of Jersey which still plays an important role in global wildlife conservation efforts. This biography situates Durrell’s writing, collecting, and conservation practices within the frameworks of animal studies, conservation biology, and postcolonial history. Familiarizing readers with the broad range of his cultural impact, from The Corfu Trilogy to his BBC television specials, Pollock shows how Durrell’s approach offers models for how life on earth is to thrive and survive: scientists must make greater efforts to touch hearts and minds, and cultural workers must communicate more about science and the perilous existence of other species.