Durrell in Russia

by Gerald Durrell

The Durrells are on the move again, this time to make a BBC television series about wildlife in 11 Russian nature reserves. Filming took place over a 10-month period, exposing the crew to every extreme of climate. Most trying, physically, was constant sunlight at the Bikada Reserve far above the Arctic Circle, where they went to see musk oxen. At Repetek, near the Afghanistan border, temperatures were above 100; there in the desert, rangers patrol the reserve on camels. In the Ukraine, one of the last areas of virgin steppe is preserved; it is home to exotic and endangered grazing animals. The authors experienced fabulous hospitality and eager cooperation during their trip. They admire the work being done to protect wildlife, but note that there is no coordination among the reserves, no exchange of information. The Durrells give us a rare portrait of contrasting landscapes and a sharp sense of the vastness of the U.S.S.R. A splendid excursion. Photos.

Genres: Nature, Memoir, Travel, History, Science, Nonfiction, Biography

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell was born in India in 1925. His elder siblings are Lawrence Durrell, Leslie Durrell, and Margaret Durrell. His family settled on Corfu when Gerald was a boy and he spent his time studying its wildlife. He relates these experiences in the trilogy beginning with My Family And Other Animals, and continuing with Birds, Beasts, And Relatives and The Garden Of The Gods. In his books he writes with wry humour and great perception about both the humans and the animals he meets.

On leaving Corfu he returned to England to work on the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. His adventures there are told with characteristic energy in Beasts In My Belfry. A few years later, Gerald began organising his own animal-collecting expeditions. The first, to the Cameroons, was followed by expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina and Sierra Leone. He recounts these experiences in a number of books, including The Drunken Forest. Gerald also visited many countries while shooting various television series, including An Amateur Naturalist. In 1958 Gerald Durrell realised a lifelong dream when he set up the Jersey Zoological Park, followed a few years later by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.

Gerald was married twice; Jacquie Durrell (1951-1979), Lee Durrell (1979-1995).

Gerald Durrell's style is exuberant, passionate and acutely observed. He died in 1995.

Reviews

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Durrell, easy to read, hard to put down.

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of background details to a TV series of a tour of Russian wildlife reserves, many never filmed before or even visited by any Westerner. Durrell's writing is a treat. It's possible some readers don't like lush description or analogy, but that is not me. Some of my favorites: "He gave wild harsh cries like Maria Callas being stabbed with a penknife" (Siberian crane), "a debutante in Wellies" (whooper swan when on land), "huge ancient willows fat as dowager dutchesses", "volcano blood" (sulphur springs), the sensory description of ice breakup on Baikal, plus known colorful expressions ("one over the eight"). It's a 20-course feast of language!

[Charu Govil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hard to find book gives the account of Gerald and Lee Durrell's travel to Russia to film the wealth of flora and fauna of the magnificent nation. Since the Westerners knew very little of the life inside Russia, they stayed for ten months and tried to cover as many Forest Reserves as possible filming the rich wildlife in each.

The book is a visual treat for the reader because it has stunning photos of the travels of Durrells across the vast landscape of Soviet Union. There are more than 300 colourful photographs capturing the diversity of the landscape, people, flora and fauna. The locations range from icy polar regions in the north to the simmering deserts of the south, from the European forest in the west to the mountains in the east. Usually Gerald Durrell’s books are dominated by his travels to equatorial countries for animal collection like Brazil, Mauritius, Cameroon but for the first time I read about the colder regions.

It was heartening to read about the conservation efforts made by Russian government way back in 1986 when this book was written. As per Durrell, many animals like the musk ox, eland, storks, etc., were returned from the brink of extinction due to the dedicated team of conservationists and other workers who take immense pride in their work. Conservation was taken very seriously in then Soviet Union and I hope it continues inspite of the economic conditions of Russia now.

Durrell writes about the interesting anecdotes while filming the animals in different locations for BBC series. Basically this is a companion book for the TV series. This makes for a delightful and quick read. It is written in his typical witty style but at places he seems to have gone over-board with his analogies.

[Trounin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Десять месяцев пути в сто пятьдесят тысяч миль остались позади. Даррелл побывал в России, чему оказался невероятно рад. Перед ним не было традиционных русских, на любое предложение отвечающих отказом. Наоборот, найти общий язык со всеми народами планеты – вот задача населяющих Россию людей. Всюду Даррелл встречал гостеприимство, улыбки и желание сберегать богатства природы. Две беды заставили придти к разочарованию – излишнее количество министерств, отвечающих за содержание зоопарков, и отсутствие связи между заповедниками, лишёнными возможности сообща заниматься общим делом. Всё остальное на должном уровне. Но как же велика Россия… под нею Даррелл понимал весь Советский Союз.

(c) Trounin

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I was expecting. I thought it was a novel of his travels as this earlier books had been, but its a companion book to a TV series Gerald Durrell his wife participated in for BBC. It details what they experienced while they were filming across Russia. I has many beautiful photos and gives details of conservation efforts that were being undertaken in Russia during the 1980's. Given the subsequent splitting up of the Soviet Union, climate change issues and monetary challenges I am sure that many of the reserves do not look the same and some of the animals are once again in jeopardy through loss of habitat or the conservation programs being discontinued. This book is a lovely snapshot of a more time.

[Stephen Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, and an interesting change from the previous Durrell books that I've read that all seem to be set in the warmer climes of Greece, Cameroon and Argentina. This is essentially a companion piece to a TV series that I've never seen and probably never will, unfortunately.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gerald and Lee Durrell write about a television series that they made in Russia in the 1980s. Very interesting views of the wildlife and the efforts to bring back animals who are almost extinct. Naturally his sense of humor is right on.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great photographs and charming and interesting narrative by Durrell regarding a year-long trip to see the flora and fauna of Russia.