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The Early Years Collection: Zoo Quest for a Dragon / Quest in Paradise / Quest Under Capricorn

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[*Narrated by the author - David Attenborough] Three of David Attenborough's early adventures, collected together in one limited audio edition box set. Specially recorded for audio, David Attenborough's earliest adventures are sometimes life-threatening, often hilarious and always totally absorbing. The warmth and enthusiasm that have made him a broadcasting legend are instantly apparent here as he recounts his magical journeys.

David Attenborough's books and broadcasts have opened the incredible world of natural history to millions of viewers and listeners. Included in this collection

ZOO QUEST FOR DRAGON takes us back to one of his earliest projects, when the BBC and London Zoo joined forces on several animal-collecting expeditions.

QUEST FOR PARADISE follows his next animal collecting and filming trip to New Guinea, home of the exotic birds of paradise.

QUEST UNDER CAPRICORN details his expedition to Australia in 1963 in search of more rare species. There, he meets Aborigines, goes walkabout in the bush and learns the secret craft of the artists of Arnhem Land.

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2000

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About the author

David Attenborough

173 books2,724 followers
Sir David Frederick Attenborough is a naturalist and broadcaster, who is most well-known for writing and presenting the nine "Life" series, produced in conjunction with BBC's Natural History Unit. The series includes Life on Earth (1979), The Living Planet (1984), The Trials of Life (1990), Life in the Freezer (about Antarctica; 1993), The Private Life of Plants (1995), The Life of Birds (1998), The Life of Mammals (2002), Life in the Undergrowth (2005) and Life in Cold Blood (2008).

He is the younger brother of director and actor Richard Attenborough.

Photo credit: Wildscreen's photograph of David Attenborough at ARKive's launch in Bristol, England © May 2003

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Ron Brown.
431 reviews28 followers
January 23, 2023
At 96 years of age, we are so pleased to have this fine human being still with us. He has one of the most recognizable names and voices. So, it was his own voice that attracted me to this audio book which is a collection of expeditions he took in the 1950s to Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Australia as part of the BBC television program Zoo Quest. How both the technology and the philosophy of capturing the natural world has changed.
They are seriously humouring stories of his successes and failures in capturing and filming animals in these parts of the world. He expresses understanding and empathy for the native people he meets. He describes a world that has sadly generally disappeared with these traditional peopling losing their traditional ways, often against their wishes.
As a younger person I so enjoyed his natural life documentaries and when they became available on video, I made a collection that I often used in my classroom.
There are couple of YouTube videos with film from this series still available.
The Indonesian segment looks at his exciting voyage to Komodo Island to see the famous Komodo Island which is past Bali but before Timor-Leste and then up into Borneo to film the Orangutang. Next he tells of his adventures in New Guinea trying to film the Bird of Paradise and getting to know the locals. Finally to northern Australia and Kakadu to film the wildlife and meet the local Aborigines and white settlers living solitary lives.
Attenborough always writes about the indigenous people with respect, care and concern. A beautiful human being, even his voice brings pleasure to my ears.
The final part is a collection of interviews that Attenborough has done over the last few decades.
3 reviews
March 25, 2018
David Attenborough is incredible. He has lived a life of adventure filled with education, hard work, curiosity, and a pure love of our beautiful world and all the creatures we share our planet with.


I love listening to his experiences and adventures - our world is such a better place with him in it. Thank you David Attenborough !
Profile Image for Ellen Schoener.
823 reviews43 followers
July 20, 2023
I often listen to audio drama or audio books when I go to sleep.
Having Sir David Attenborough narrate my bed-time stories is however absolutely amazing.
He calms me down, and sometimes, when a story was particularly interesting, I actually listened longer than I should have (instead of going to sleep as intended).

What more is there to say?
If you know Sir David Attenborough, you know he is a great narrator and story teller and you know exactly what you are in for when you listen to this.

I personally could not have wished for better bed-time stories.
Profile Image for Jay Moran.
53 reviews3 followers
June 6, 2021
A gorgeous way to see the world whilst stuck in lockdown.

Vivid stories that transport you to the wilderness of yesteryear.
680 reviews
October 31, 2022
I truly loved it. His voice, his adventures, the animals, the facts, his voice! Just wonderful!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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