Live in the Archive: Gerald Durrell and Other Animals (In person)
Live in the Archive is a collaboration between The London Library and Curtis Brown Heritage to celebrate some of the greatest literary stars in our combined history, former Library members and agency clients. And, as spring comes around and the natural world comes to life, we are turning to beloved conservationist, naturalist and author, Gerald Durrell.
He claimed to hate writing, but Gerald Durrell managed to write 40 books in his lifetime, exploring the natural world, the animal kingdom and his own family, in humorous, lyrical, vivid prose. This is, of course, exemplified in his classic memoir, My Family and Other Animals, a timeless account of an idyllic childhood on Corfu amongst his chaotic family and a growing menagerie of animals. Now, on the centenary of his birth and thirty years since his death, comes a posthumous work Myself and Other Animals, a mosaic of unpublished autobiographies, uncollected pieces and previously published extracts from the archives. The result is an extraordinary journey through Durrell’s life in his own words, from touching family tributes to golden bats and pink pigeons, via travels across the globe.
Joining us to discuss this book, Durrell’s work and his legacy, is his widow, Lee Durrell, who, as a writer and zoologist herself, worked closely alongside him and edited and introduced this last book. She’ll be in conversation with author Tiffany Murray, whose most recent book, My Family and Other Rock Stars, pays homage to Gerald Durrell’s work, telling the story of her own unusual childhood at Rockfield Studios in rural Monmouthshire, similarly surrounded by animals and chaos, plus some of the most famous musicians of all time.
Lee Durrell was born in the US and received a PhD in Zoology from Duke University. She married Gerald Durrell and spent 15 years with him writing and making TV programmes about natural history and conservation. She became involved with the work of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and The State of the Ark (1986), Lee’s first book, was a comprehensive review of species conservation. She received the MBE for services to conservation in 2011.
Tiffany Murray’s novels, Diamond Star Halo, Happy Accidents and Sugar Hall, have variously been shortlisted for the Wodehouse Bollinger Prize and received the Roger Deakin Award for nature writing. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and she has been a Hay Festival Fiction Fellow, a Fulbright scholar, a Senior Lecturer, a record company receptionist and a dog walker in New York. She currently lives in a forest. My Family and Other Rock Stars is her first memoir.
Curtis Brown Heritage represents the literary estates of many of the best writers of the 20th century, from national treasures such as AA Milne, Gerald Durrell, CLR James and Douglas Adams to literary greats such as Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Bowen, Fay Weldon and Iain M Banks. Part of the Curtis Brown Group, it celebrated 125 years of the agency in 2024.
Books by Gerald Durrell, Lee Durrell and Tiffany Murray will be available to buy at the event and online from our partner bookshop Hatchards.
NB This event will take place in person at The London Library. Doors (and the bar) will open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Please see our Event Access Guidelines before you arrive.
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