The Whispering Land

Book Description

Fans of Gerard DurrellÂ's beloved classic My Family and Other Animals and other accounts of his lifelong fascination with members of the animal kingdom will rejoice at The Whispering Land. The sequel to A Zoo in My Luggage, this is the story of how Durrell and his wifeÂ's zoo-building efforts at EnglandÂ's Jersey Zoo led them and a team of helpers on an eight- month safari in Argentina to look for South American specimens. Through windswept Patagonian shores and tropical forests in Argentina, from ocelots to penguins, fur seals to parrots, Durrell captures the landscape and its inhabitants with his signature charm and humor. BACKCOVER: Â“Anyone who has ever read a book by Gerald Durrell will welcome another with whoops of joy.Â”
Â—Chicago Sunday Tribune

Â“Animals come close to being DurrellÂ's best friends. . . . He writes about them with style, verve, and humor.Â”
Â—Time

Â“No one can be funnier than Mr. Durrell in relating his own adventures or the antics of the claw and paw set.Â”
Â—The Christian Science Monitor

Customer Reviews:

Gerald Durrel a man who is greatly missed........2007-09-16

If you like animals, the environment and laughing out loud...this book (as al of Durrel's books are) should not be missed!

Hunting for Wild Times (and Animals) in Argentina.......2006-07-09

Gerald Durrell will make you roar with laughter even in a whispering land. The fact that this book is still in print after half a century gives you some idea that it is still quite readable: In fact, it reads as if it were written yesterday.

I devoured this book as part of a reading program I planned for myself for a trip to Patagonia. The first half of the book is set in two areas in Patagonia that I planned to visit: Puerto Deseado in the south, once visited by Darwin on his circumnavigation of the earth on the Beagle, and the large wildlife preserve at Peninsula Valdez, near Puerto Madryn. There, Durrell visited penguin rookeries; saw the breeding grounds of sea lions and elephant seals; and saw guanacos, Geoffroy's cats, rheas, and tinamous.

From Patagonia, Durrell went to the area around Jujuy in the tropical northwest of Argentina. There, he went into collecting mode as he employed locals to track down wild animals that were being kept as pets by the indigenous population.

Durrell's encounters with the local people are funny and at times heart-wrenching, as when he finds a self-taught naturalist named Coco who must work at a sawmill to make ends meet. But Durrell's encounters with animals are utterly hilarious, as his attempts to tame a captured Geoffroy's cat (gato montes).

One of the best chapters relates to the difficulties that Durrell has in exporting his animals and getting all his bureaucratic ducks in a row. His final departure on a ship bound to Europe is held up until a last minute solution satisfies a particularly mule-headed customs official.

I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to read several more of Durrell's works soon. It is hard to believe that the author is the brother of novelist Lawrence Durrell, author of THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET.

a great book by one of the best zoologist authors ever.......2003-07-11

A charming little book about an animal collecting trip in South America. Durrell paints both an enchanting picture both of the Argentine people and of the flora and fauna of the country. He encounters vampire bats, a puma, and many birds. He rescues an ocelot from a cruel local owner who is starving the cat and convinces a baby Geoffrey's cat to eat by pairing it with a lovable tabby kitten who sets the example and provides it with company.

Durrell was one of the first naturalists to develop the notion of captive breeding to ensure the survival of endangered species. He obviously cares deeply about the animals that he collects and goes to extra ordinary lengths to make them happy and keep them healthy. His descriptions of caring for a sick taper, even sleeping beside her to comfort her, are delightful. His wrangle with custom's officials are amusing, and his description of a plain trip in Argentina is particularly hilarious.

Also, Durrell's tireless work and observations were sometimes the first and best studies into how to care for these animals in captivity. When possible, he takes his specimens from private owners, rather than taking them from the wild. People like Durrell were not responsible for the endangerment of these animals. He worked for the salvation of many species and was probably responsible for the continued survival of some today.

Beautiful.......2002-02-21

Even for a person with an insufferably short attention span, I was not once bored during this book. It's not a thriller, or anything of the sort, but it managed to truly involve the reader in the author's journey.
The story of an Englishman who is on a trip through Patagonia to collect animals for his own private zoo, this book manages to bring out the animal lover in any reader. The descriptions of the land, the people, and the animals are beautifully crafted in well done, straight forward prose. I highly recommend it.

Beautiful.......2002-02-21

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The Whispering Land
Gerald Durrell
Manufacturer: Rupert Hart-Davis
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B0000CL6DI

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Land of Whispering Leaves
Muriel E. Newton-White
Manufacturer: Highway Book Shop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0889543038

The Secret of Whispering Woods (Jerman, Jerry, Journeys of Jessie Land.)

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The Secret of Whispering Woods (Jerman, Jerry, Journeys of Jessie Land.)
Jerry Jerman
Manufacturer: Victor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564765520

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THE WHISPERING LAND
GERALD DURRELL
Manufacturer: PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S2W3VY

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THE WHISPERING LAND
DURRELL
Manufacturer: PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S58IRY

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THE WHISPERING LAND
THOMPSON
Manufacturer: PENQUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RZD6G8

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THE WHISPERING LAND
GERALD DURREL
Manufacturer: PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S81IIW

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THE WHISPERING LAND
DURRELL
Manufacturer: PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S5AUAW

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Whispering Land
Gerald Durrell
Manufacturer: VIKING PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PX57TQ

Product Description

Book Description

Seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling and hearing - if you join Rafiq Shami and his sister Marie Fadel on a stroll through their native Damascus, you will discover this Queen of the Orient with all your senses. Rafiq Shami, award-winning writer and master storyteller, describes the colorful scenes of the old town and relays the stories of its inhabitants overheard in the coffee houses. Reading his prose one seems to be able to smell the cardamom and the coriander sold in the spice market and hear the cries of street traders. Inspired by his stories, one can follow his sister Marie Fadelâ€™s recipes and recreate the tastes of the Orient.

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1,000 great events

Manufacturer: Hamlyn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0600387437

Book Description

The availability of various in vitro and in vivo techniques has considerably advanced the research on drug transport and metabolism across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These specialized and sophisticated experimental strategies are of fundamental importance if one is to gain a greater understanding of enhanced and selective drug delivery to the brain. The reader will find in this book methods for in vitro endothelial/astrocyte cell culture models, and for in vivo intracerebral microdialysis to study drug tranport across the BBB. This book, however, is not merely a laboratory manual consisting of recipes for BBB research; it permits the presentation of the different methods in fine detail, revealing tricks and short cuts that frequently do not appear in the literature. The researcher is well aware that differences (subtle or otherwise) in experimental steps used in different laboratories may influence the outcome of any particular procedure. The book also illustrates the accessibility and the application of the different methods in different species. Background information of the protocol is given in every chapter, which also contains a literature list that the reader may wish to refer to for further information. This volume will be invaluable to basic researchers as well as to those involved in the search for agents suitable for pharmaceutic intervention in the central nervous system.

Book Description

"This historic book . . . presents Riehl's absorbing account of his key role in the production of pure uranium for . . . the Soviet nuclear bomb program [and], written by uniquely qualified Frederick Seitz, an extraordinary and perceptive introduction."--Glenn Seaborg, Nobel laureate in Chemistry "A fascinating story admirably told. . . . I was intrigued by Riehl's ability to survive those difficult times, by his accounts of Russian science, and by his insight into the Russian people of all levels."--Bruce Merrifield, Nobel laureate in Chemistry "The book has solid value as source material, for Riehl was an eyewitness to important affairs and social circumstances that are otherwise poorly documented."--Spencer Weart, AIP Center for the History of Physics

STALIN'S CAPTIVE: NIKOLAUS RIEHL AND THE SOVIET RACE FOR THE BOMB

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STALIN'S CAPTIVE: NIKOLAUS RIEHL AND THE SOVIET RACE FOR THE BOMB
Nikolaus and Frederick Seitz Riehl
Manufacturer: American Chemical Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J3W9MA

Book Description

The articles collected in this volume are based on lectures given at the IMA Workshop, "Computational Radiology and Imaging: Therapy and Diagnostics", March 17-21, 1997. Introductory articles by the editors have been added. The focus is on inverse problems involving electromagnetic radiation and particle beams, with applications to X-ray tomography, nuclear medicine, near-infrared imaging, microwave imaging, electron microscopy, and radiation therapy planning. Mathematical and computational tools and models which play important roles in this volume include the X-ray transform and other integral transforms, the linear Boltzmann equation and, for near-infrared imaging, its diffusion approximation, iterative methods for large linear and non-linear least-squares problems, iterative methods for linear feasibility problems, and optimization methods. The volume is intended not only for mathematical scientists and engineers working on these and related problems, but also for non-specialists. It contains much introductory expository material, and a large number of references. Many unsolved computational and mathematical problems of substantial practical importance are pointed out.

Customer Reviews:

Great overview of the compuational aspects of RTP.......2000-07-31

This book is a collection of articles written by various specialists in computational radiology. The content is very mathematical and emphasizes formal aspects of radiology rather than actual program code. The most refreshing article in the book is the one by D.S. Andronov, A.E. Kovtanyuk, and I.V. Prokhorov on tomography using the Boltzmann transport equation. The solution of the transport equation, numerically or otherwise, should be the main effort of concentration today. Monte Carlo simulations have for quite some time been used to examine transport problems with the assumption that the solution of the transport problem is too difficult or too computationally intensive. Christoph Borgers' article in the opening pages of the book give credence to the view that the object of interest to computational radiologists should be the numerical solution of the Boltzmann transport equation. Finite elements are one method to approach the transport problem, and these techniques are advocated in the field of optical tomography in the article by Arridge and Schweiger. Pseudocode is given in this article to illustrate the solution of the relevant problems. In this book the reader can gain much insight into the difficult problems facing computational radiologists. The articles are all well written, the breadth is decent for such a short book, and the price is reasonable.

Phantoms and Computational Models in Therapy, Diagnosis and Protection (International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements//I C R U Report)

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Phantoms and Computational Models in Therapy, Diagnosis and Protection (International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements//I C R U Report)

Manufacturer: International Commission
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Radiologic & Ultrasound Technology | Allied Health Professions | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0913394459

Book Description

The Origins of the English Novel, 1600-1740, combines historical analysis and readings of extraordinarily diverse texts to reconceive the foundations of the dominant genre of the modern era. Now, on the fifteenth anniversary of its initial publication, The Origins of the English Novel stands as essential reading. The anniversary edition features a new introduction in which the author reflects on the considerable response and commentary the book has attracted since its publication by describing dialectical method and by applying it to early modern notions of gender.

Challenging prevailing theories that tie the origins of the novel to the ascendancy of "realism" and the "middle class," McKeon argues that this new genre arose in response to the profound instability of literary and social categories. Between 1600 and 1740, momentous changes took place in European attitudes toward truth in narrative and toward virtue in the individual and the social order. The novel emerged, McKeon contends, as a cultural instrument designed to engage the epistemological and social crises of the age.

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Origins of the English Novel 1600 1740
Michael Mckeon
Manufacturer: JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV+PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SNKLKI

Book Description

Farley Mowat's youth was charmed and hilarious, and unbelievably free in its access to unspoiled nature through bird-banding expeditions and overnight outings in the dead of winter. The author writes of sleeping in haystacks for survival, and other adventures, with equal shares of Booth Tarkington and Jack London. He also brings back Mutt, the famous hero-dog of his classic THE DOG WHO WOULDN'T BE, and his pet owl Wol, hero of OWLS IN THE FAMILY. The tale of an outrageous and clever boy, BORN NAKED takes its place as the foundation of the Farley Mowat canon.

Customer Reviews:

A Love Song to Nature and Life.......2005-09-09

If you've read Farley Mowat, you know him as a passionate defender of the beautiful "Others" with whom we share our planet. This book is a joy-filled description of his early life and formation as a nature-lover. We hear of the wild beauty of Canada, the Quixotic plans his father devised and his mother endured, and the daring adventures which will become the foundation for his later writings. Although a light-hearted story overall, Farley does not avoid the difficult times, including a powerful depiction of the effect of the Depression on the Canadian provinces. It is a love song to the strength of character and perseverence of our northern cousins, as well.

When the book ends, the reader, like the writer, wonders if there will ever be such a wonderful time again. Sheer delight.

Mowat is a true Canadian gem.......2004-08-20

I enjoy all of Mowat's books, but this one is particularly good. His style is conversational, his humor is biting. Clearly a man who does not suffer a fool lightly. Farley Mowat is a national gem. Buy the book...

Born Naked is one of the most amazing books around........1999-01-31

Canadian author Farley Mowat's Born Naked is a must-read glimpse into the author's much self-written about life. It's hilarious, it's poignant and a must for any Mowat fan.

If Only My Childhood Was Like His...........1997-06-25

I've been a big fan of Farley Mowat's literary style since I first read Never Cry Wolf back in junior high school. Even as a 9th grade Earth Science teacher, I show the silver screen adaptation of this great novel. Born Naked, however, is of different 'stuff' than Never Cry Wolf. Here is a book written in a light, easy-to-read fashion that highlights his early years in this great world. We, the readers, are along for the ride when he travels to the Arctic on a research mission with his uncle, or when he makes his daily rounds to inspect the nests of local birds in Saskatchewan. This book is written in a truly entrancing style. I had a very difficult time putting it down. There are some questionable portions in it dealing with his discovery of his own sexuality, but they are far outweighed by the sense of awe and discovery he felt as a youngster. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, or anyone that wants to experience the childhood they only dreamed about

Customer Reviews:

The book of U-Boat's enemys in the Battle of Atlantic!.......2006-11-03

Hi! I'm a brazilian amateur historicician, about the U-Boats and yours enemys in the Battle of Atlantic.
Thos book is very good about the Liberators in the Europe theatre and the atuation in ASW actions.
Bets regards, Sergio Carvalho

Models of yesteryear: U.S. Navy convair PB4Y-1 patrol bomber & Douglas AD-6 Skyraider.: An article from: Airpower

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Models of yesteryear: U.S. Navy convair PB4Y-1 patrol bomber & Douglas AD-6 Skyraider.: An article from: Airpower

Manufacturer: Sentry Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Airpower, published by Sentry Books, Inc. on July 1, 2003. The length of the article is 597 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Models of yesteryear: U.S. Navy convair PB4Y-1 patrol bomber & Douglas AD-6 Skyraider.
Publication: Airpower (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2003
Publisher: Sentry Books, Inc.
Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Page: 62(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

"How much does it cost?" We think of this question as one that preoccupies the nation's shoppers, not its statesmen. But, as Pocketbook Politics dramatically shows, the twentieth-century American polity in fact developed in response to that very consumer concern.

In this groundbreaking study, Meg Jacobs demonstrates how pocketbook politics provided the engine for American political conflict throughout the twentieth century. From Woodrow Wilson to Franklin Roosevelt to Richard Nixon, national politics turned on public anger over the high cost of living.

Beginning with the explosion of prices at the turn of the century, every strike, demonstration, and boycott was, in effect, a protest against rising prices and inadequate income. On one side, a reform coalition of ordinary Americans, mass retailers, and national politicians fought for laws and policies that promoted militant unionism, government price controls, and a Keynesian program of full employment. On the other, small businessmen fiercely resisted this low-price, high-wage agenda that threatened to bankrupt them.

This book recaptures this dramatic struggle, beginning with the immigrant Jewish, Irish, and Italian women who flocked to Edward Filene's famous Boston bargain basement that opened in 1909 and ending with the Great Inflation of the 1970s.

Pocketbook Politics offers a new interpretation of state power by integrating popular politics and elite policymaking. Unlike most social historians who focus exclusively on consumers at the grass-roots, Jacobs breaks new methodological ground by insisting on the centrality of national politics and the state in the nearly century-long fight to fulfill the American Dream of abundance.

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