Gerald Durrell: The Authorized Biography

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Although his work is not widely read today, Gerald Durrell (1925-1995) was among the world's most popular naturalists in the 1950s and early '60s. He traveled to then-remote places such as Siberia, Cameroon, Tierra del Fuego, and Mauritius in search of odd zoological specimens and reported his travels in books like The Whispering Land and My Family and Other Animals. In the first full-length biography devoted to Durrell, Douglas Botting writes of his passage from gifted child amateur to scientifically trained professional. That passage was inspired in part by Gerald's older (and more famous) brother, the novelist and memoirist Lawrence Durrell, who gave Gerald a copy of Jean-Henri Fabre's classic Insect Life: Souvenirs of a Naturalist and encouraged his younger brother to follow his dream of living and working in the wild. Gerald Durrell, as Botting shows, went on to make signal contributions as a conservationist who founded the Jersey Zoo and other organizations devoted to protecting endangered species by breeding them in captivity and then reintroducing them into their native habitats. (Among those species were the Siberian ferret, highland gorilla, snow leopard, bespectacled bear, and golden lion tamarin.) Botting's well-written biography will be of interest not only to admirers of Durrell's work but also to students of the environmentalist and conservationist movements. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Written with complete access to the Durrell family archives and Gerald Durrell's private papers, this affecting biography follows its subject from an eccentric boyhood in Imperial India to the international prominence he gained in print and on television as one of the world's foremost animal conservationists. The younger brother of the famous novelist Lawrence Durrell, Gerald always viewed his own writing - which includes thirty-seven bestsellers, among them enduringly popular classics like My Family and Other Animals and A Zoo in My Luggage - as the means of financing his greatest passion: breeding animals in danger of extinction and returning them to the wild. In the 1980s, with the production of a dozen different television documentary series on zoology, most notably the widely acclaimed Catch Me a Colobus and Ark on the Move, Durrell's conservationist vision reached audiences around the globe, while the zoo he founded on the island of Jersey realized his pioneering mission to breed endangered species in captivity. It stands as a living legacy of the much-admired Gerald Durrell, who died in 1995 at the age of seventy. "Captivating and deeply moving but surprisingly candid biography." - Publishers Weekly (starred review); "Ambitious.... Rich material for a biography." - New York Times Book Review; "Affectionate yet clear-eyed portrait.... Botting does an excellent job of giving us Durrell the man, not merely the legend." - Toronto Globe & Mail; "Few current biographies read as well." - Denver Post.

Customer Reviews:

Durrell: the Unauthorized Species.......2006-04-03

Douglas Botting's new biography of Gerald Durrell, a charming man whose unique Zoo, Wild Life Preservation Trust and deeply touching , hilarious stories have saved many an animal from extinction and moved people around the world to join the conservation effort, is an "xtrordenry" tale of one man's dream come true. Botting's obvious fascination with Durrell's personality and mission, good grasp of the world of nature and travel, as well as his humorous streak, are an ideal mix of credentials for someone attempting to recount a story of this supreme "raconteur."

After a vivid depiction of Durrell's colorful early childhood in colonial India, Botting perceptively discerns and fits together all the pieces of Gerald's adolescent years that made him into a shy but passionate and original man with a unique vision. It was in the enchanted atmosphere of pre-war Corfu, with its unspoilt fauna and picturesque dwellers, that Durrell's free spirit and sense of wonder first blossomed, enhanced by the lack of stiflingly uniform influence of formal schooling. His widowed mother's warm devotion and faith in Gerald's endeavors, creative encouragement from his older brother and budding writer Lawrence, coupled with his tutors' idiosyncratic influences and the island's offer of the freedom to explore the natural world, all combined to account for the very unconventionality of Durrell's upbringing and personality that would later make people yield to his charisma and daring.

Botting manages to stay true to the spirit of Gerald Durrell, as if the magic firefly of the epilogue lights up his way throughout the book. I also liked Botting's impartiality in dealing with such complicated emotional roller-coasters as Gerald's relationship with his first wife Jacquie and his alcohol problem, which he never downplays, at the same time managing to convey Durrell's intrinsic honesty and charm. The only regret that will forever haunt this biography is that Durrell unfortunately didn't have time to pen it himself.

A conservation hero.......2005-09-06

A mammoth book for an equally large individual, in bulk and spirit. Having read Durrell's first books, was equally curious about the author and was not disappointed..looked forward to each page, particularly his expeditions if not his highly personal life with his two wives. His alcohol consumption was simply sad, and even though the author states it may not have affected his work, I wonder what he would have achieved if he had not been looking forward to each drink, beginning in the morning. But he is a hero to me, and has opened up the wonders of Madagascar, and hopefully to the continuing need to perserve its fauna and flora.

Durrell fans, this one's worth having !.......2000-05-14

Douglas Botting makes a fairly good job of Durrell's biography. Lavishly illustrated with rare photographs, with numerous quotations from Durrell's personal notebooks thrown in for good measure,this book sheds a new light on the life of one of the most amazing men of the 20th century. However, this book is recommended for Durrell fans, and not for the plain inquisitive who want to bone up on the life and times of Gerald Durrell.They would do better to stick to the Gerald Durrell accounts .The author has a tendency of repeating parts of the Durrell accounts in his own words,and relying too much on the Durrell works as his guide( but then again it is difficult to pick up the thread of people and events as many as 50 years later, with a world war inbetween ). All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable 600-pager that Durrell fans will devour in no time at all. Judging by this one,the Gavin Maxwell biography should be well worth reading ..

In depth, lively biography.......2000-03-01

This must be one of the best biographies I have read about anyone. Douglas Botting is to be congratulated on his meticulous research and unbiased approach. He gives us a wonderful insight into this complex man's extraordinary life. All 607 pages are highly readable and I found it hard to put the book down. I particularly enjoyed the account of Durrell's happy go lucky, unconventional childhood in Greece surrounded by his mad mad family. As Gerald Durrell would have wanted, there is a lively quality about the telling of his story. There were so many facets to this man's character and Botting has been at pains to dig deep to bring these to the fore. Having read Durrell's books many years ago I found myself enjoying the adventures of his life all over again, but in a different way, now that I understand more about the man and his background. I feel this is a 'must' read for anyone who has enjoyed Gerald Durrell's books

Warm, intimate look at a wonderful man.......1999-10-24

I always thought of Gerry Durrell as my own secret discovery, and gave copies of his books to all my friends. Also visited the Jersey Trust twice....well worth it. This book reads like the diary of an old and dear friend, sharing much and explaining a lot. He was ahead of us all in his love for the endangered earth and its living creatures.

Book Description

World Champions
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Customer Reviews:

Players overview.......2002-08-08

A good book where you can learn about some of the best players of the moment. Nicely illustrated the book depicts the temper of the players and their background.

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Much has been written about Cold War Hollywood and the Soviet Union's cinematic campaign against the West. This book fills a significant gap in the international story by uncovering British cinema's contribution to Cold War propaganda and its attempt to create a consensus among British audiences on Cold War issues. It examines Cold War issues, as refracted through British films and Hollywood movies released in Britain, and tells how the British public received this "war propaganda."

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Not A Bad Card In The Deck!

Love it - Accurate, Simple and Enjoyable to work with!

Love Doreen Virture's Cards

Oracle cards

oracle cards

Ascended Masters Oracle Cards: 44-Card Deck and guidebook
Doreen Virtue
Manufacturer: Hay House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

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Daily Guidance from Your Angels Oracle Cards: 44 cards plus booklet

Archangels and Ascended Masters

ASIN: 140190808X

Book Description

By popular demand, Doreen Virtue has created a beautiful deck of cards based on her best-selling book Archangels & Ascended Masters. The deck includes gorgeous paintings of 44 male and female cross-cultural deities, such as Ganesha, Merlin, Saint-Germain, Apollo, Pallas Athena, White Buffalo Calf Woman, Jesus, Moses, Yogananda, Green Man, and Kuthumi. The enclosed guidebook gives expanded explanations of each card’s meaning, and a brief history of each ascended master. As with each of Doreen’s oracle-card decks, the messages for each card are positive, accurate, and life-affirming.

Customer Reviews:

Not A Bad Card In The Deck!.......2007-09-08

These cards have a wonderful vibration, all very inspiring, uplifting, encouraging. However, they are not without depth; they are more than just "sweetness and light." There is a suggestion that they can be used in combination with other kinds of Tarot (that can carry the darker undercurrents--necessary energies to be aware of in their own right), and I find there is a good balance that way.

Love it - Accurate, Simple and Enjoyable to work with!.......2007-08-22

I bought this deck to learn more about the Ascended Masters and to begin to work with their energies.

I was actually very surprised to see that world deities are considered ascended masters, along with New Age figures such as El Morya, Saint-Germain and others. In fact, the world deities make up most of the deck. My one complaint is that I actually would have liked the inclusion of more of the specifically "New Age" Ascensionist Masters (I realize many deities have become central Ascended Masters in the Ascension movement, such as Kuan Yin and Buddha, and would not have minded them being included), and seen the world deities go into a completely seperate deck. I was a little dissapointed, because I really did want to learn more about them through this oracle.

Other than that, I love this deck! Like her Goddess Oracle, I found the readings to be extremely accurate right from the get-go. I use these cards along with the Goddess Oracle to get an extremely well-balanced reading - in the accompanying book it gives a very simple method for using multiple oracle decks for one reading, which I recommend everyone give a try.

I would love to see an "expansion pack"-type deck for this one made that focuses more specifically on the New Age Ascended Masters, including the more intergalactic figures such as Ashtar. I feel I could really learn alot from such a product, and that was the original intent of purchasing this one. However, as a lover of world spirituality, it was fun to see many familiar faces in this deck, and to be able to to incorporate that wisdom into my readings and meditation.

Love Doreen Virture's Cards.......2007-07-27

I bought this deck to add to my collection of Doreen's cards. I have them all. These are as beautiful as the rest, I especially love the gold edges, however there are too many of the same cards from previous decks. The artwork is different but it's pretty much the same meanings. I was hoping for something new in this deck and it just doesn't have it. Even so, I will continue to buy Doreen's cards because I love the artwork in them and the positive inspirations.

Oracle cards.......2007-07-07

Best of Doreen Virtue's oracle cards! Highly recommend for the devoted mystic. These wonderful cards provide beautiful golden light to your meditation. Beautifully illustrated by talented artists.

oracle cards.......2007-06-08

Once again I am very pleased with my Doreen Virtue cards.
The cards are beaufiful to look at and the descriptions are very accurate.

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Master Tarot Deck
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The Master Tarot leads the reader onto the path of the secret sources of self-discovery and wisdom. Episodes from the life of Jesus Christ, which are presented as spiritual truths, are shown on the cards.

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* InfoPath creates forms for data gathering, analysis, and reporting
* InfoPath has been adopted by many companies, ranging from Toyota and Hewlett-Packard to M/I Homes and New York Presbyterian Hospital, and recent laws that regulate data collection, such as Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPPA, have increased demand
* Explains how to use InfoPath in a single user mode and how to use it with other databases, such as Access and SQL Server, or in conjunction with XML Web services
* Shows how to deploy multi-user forms that use InfoPath with collaborative products such as Windows SharePoint Services and BizTalk

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Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-08-31

I am new to Infopath. I am a quick learner. Most subjects we usually buy our first "beginners" book then 1 week later need another book to pick up where things leave off.

"Beginning InfoPath 2003" is a great book for beginners and takes you right into some more meaty stuff.

--HIGHLY RECOMMENDED--

A fantastic beginner's guide.......2007-08-18

I can't say enough good things about this book. I chose to buy it because of all the other positive reviews before mine. I already knew what InfoPath was capable of, I just needed someone to explain "how to." The tutorials and examples in the book are great. This book really helped me figure out everything I needed get my forms created and hooked up to a database. It's a very easy and quick read.

This is the missing manual for InfoPath.......2007-08-03

I have been thrust into the InfoPath world. I had trouble getting a grasp
on things searching on-line etc.
I got Scott Barker's book and it's simply excellent. Going thru the first 6 chapters, and doing the examples has given me the foundation to move forward. This is a beginning book, but it covers all the things to get you productive. Thank you Scott.

Okay Read.......2007-02-03

It's a book for beginners. It's a good book if you want to learn Infopath from scratch. Written well , easy to understand etc. but i did not really use all the concepts described in the book.

I personally feel that InfoPath can be learned easily with Microsoft Online Help and by playing with the software. The book did not help me in any way to improve my skills.

The book's value has now depreciated to ashes after the release of the new office 2007 package.

Excellent book to get you start with infopath!.......2006-03-31

This book guide you through infopath step by step. Very very helpful for beginers!

Book Description

What do we know of the historical Nebuchadnezzar? Who were the Hittites? When did Isaiah preach? How did Jezebel get her bad reputation? Why did Alexander the Great set fire to Persepolis?

From the celebrated to the notorious, Gwendolyn Leick's fascinating new work offers over 300 A-Z entries on the people who shaped the history of the Near East between the First Dynasty of Kish in the 2500's B.C. and the end of the Selucid period in the 200's B.C. These readable yet authoritative mini-biographies include rulers, officials, royal consorts, merchants, bankers, military leaders, priests and scholars, and bring to life some of the best-known events of the ancient world. Who's Who in the Ancient Near Eastwill delight anyone with an interest in ancient or Biblical history.

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Who's Who in the Ancient Near East is a unique reference work that covers the peoples of Mesopotamia and the surrounding areas from the earliest historic documents in the first Dynasty of Kish up to the end of the Seleucid period.

Customer Reviews:

What's up with this Who's Who?.......2000-07-18

First, let me say that I bought this book because I was frustrated with the Bible dictionaries I own when it comes to finding information on ancient rulers who are not directly mentioned in the Bible. They do a good job, as one would expect, of putting forth as much as can be known about kings, queens, and the queen mothers of Israel and Judah, but are weak in giving a good overview of the neighboring kingdoms and the genealogy of their rulers.

This WHO'S WHO is written by a scholar who acknowledges that as an Assyriologist she has favored the history of Mesopotamia over other parts of the Ancient Near East. (The few entries there are on Egypt seem to be from the latter part of the first millennium. Routledge must want us to buy their WHO'S WHO IN ANCIENT EGYPT.) Entries are brief (the longest is three columns); most seem to be drawn from one or two sources, the CAMBRIDGE ANCIENT HISTORY being the dominant English language source. Leick chose not to provide translations of the names, probably because the etymology of too many of them remains uncertain. She does not reveal the basis for her English spellings which I would like to have known in case I need to do further exploring; but I assume she follows what's used in the CAH.

Where my trust in the author's expertise breaks down is with the biblical persons she writes about. After acknowledging that the only source for David's biography is the Bible, she writes "Saul's hostility never ceased, but his son Abner made overtures to David by marrying his sister Micah to him." Apart from the pronominal confusion of that sentence (I had to read it three times), there are some factual errors. According to the biblical record, Abner was Saul's cousin, not his son (1 Sam 14:50), and Saul's daughter who was given to David in marriage was named Michal (I've never encountered a different spelling). Leick goes on to say that David captured Jerusalem from the Canaanites (technically not wrong, but "from a Canaanite people called the Jebusites" would have been more precise and would have kept uninformed readers from assuming that the Canaanites existed as a unified nation); and describes Ammon, Moab, and Edom as Israel's "western" neighbors (all are east of the Jordan/Dead Sea). It should also probably be noted that precise biblical citations are rare in this book.

Customer Reviews:

An essential compilation........1999-12-16

This two volumes compilation of Indian Treaties is essential for anyone who wants to learn Native American Diplomacy with the U.S.A., Spain, Mexico and a great number of U.S. states, particulars, etc...

Two regrets : first, the references end with year 1979 (end of President CARTER's periode), but so many laws were established during Presidents REAGAN, BUSH and CLINTON... should have found its place here;

second, it's quite difficult to find a particular problem, while an important final index (pages 1500 to 1540) offers interesting possibilities. If You want to learn how Treaties were written and failed, You have to buy (or consult) those two books.

(Please excuse my bad English; I'm a natural French writer)

An important publication on treaties with the Indian Nations.......1999-12-15

This is an extremely important book for readers interested in the history of treaties between the United States ( and others ) and the Indian Nations.

This is a two volume, 1500 page work. This is surprising enough without considering that the texts of the 350+ traditionally acknowledged treaties - that have been accessed over the years through Charles J. Kappler's "Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties" - are not included here. Citations to Kappler's compilation are provided in Chapter 5 on "Valid Treaties." The scope of this work is demonstrated by the inclusion of early and very late treaties or agreements; by an analysis of the railroad/irrigation agreements; and by the enumeration of treaties and agreements rejected by Congress or by the Nations. This last group of documents is added to land grants to private parties, and to unratified or miscellaneous treaties or agreements, that collectively comprise the entire second volume.

Deloria and DeMallie state ( page 1475 ): "The goal of this collection is to identify every document that can be understood as representing a diplomatic negotiation by an Indian nation." For those interested in this area of history, this publication will be an asset to their collection.

Book Description

FROM THE PREFACE In the years since the first edition, I have continued to consider ways in which the texts could be improved. In this regard, I researched several topics including how people learn (learning styles, etc.), how the brain functions in storing and retrieving information, and the fundamentals of memory systems. Many of the changes incorporated in this second edition are a result of this research. The changes were field-tested during a three-year period in which I taught a water and wastewater mathematics course for Palomar Community College, San Marcos, California. · All the fundamental math concepts and skills needed for daily water/wastewater treatment plant operations. This first volume, "Basic Math Concepts for Water and Wastewater Plant Operators," provides a thorough review of the necessary mathematical concepts and skills encountered in the daily operations of a water and wastewater treatment plant. Each chapter begins with a skills check to allow the student to determine whether or not a review of the topic is needed. Practice problems illustrate the concepts presented in each section.

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