Jacquie Durrell
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Jacqueline ('Jacquie') Sonia Durrell (née Wolfenden) (b. 1929, Manchester) was the first wife of Gerald Durrell. She helped Gerald Durrell on his animal collecting expeditions, and on the Jersey Zoological Park - which he founded. She is the author of two autobiographical accounts.
- Beasts in My Bed, (footnotes by Gerald Durrell) (Collins, 1967)
- Intimate Relations, (Collins, 1976)
Jacquie was only 19 when she met Durrell for the first time. She was training to be an opera contralto singer from the age of 17, and had changed her name to Jacqueline Sonia Rasen for career purposes. Her father did not approve of her marrying Durrell, as he had no money and apparently no career prospects at the time. She could not marry without her parents' permission until she was 21, so when her 21st birthday arrived, she and Durrell eloped and got married on February 26, 1951. She never spoke to any of her relatives again.
She went on a number of animal expeditions with Gerald Durrell featuring in a number of his books, including:
- Argentina (1954, 1958) (The Drunken Forest, The Whispering Land)
- Cameroon (1957) (A Zoo in My Luggage - an account of her meeting with the Fon of Bafut Achirimbi II is described here)
- Australia-New Zealand-Malaysia (1961) (Two in the Bush)
- Mexico (1966) (Catch Me a Colobus)
She typically features in Gerald Durrell books as a supportive spouse not squeamish with animals.
Jacquie Durrell also helped run Jersey Zoo and helped found and run the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (now the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust), though she never held any official post. She was also the central figure in organizing one of the expeditions to Argentina. Her role is depicted in Gerald Durrell's Menagerie Manor. She was popular with the staff and affectionately known as "Mrs. D".
Both of Jacquie Durrell's books are written along the lines of Gerald Durrell accounts. They have a dry wit and humour, and Beasts in My Bed also features (often deliberately contradictory) footnotes by Gerald Durrell. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Russian and Dutch.
Jacquie Durrell also featured in the following TV series presented by Gerald Durrell:
- To Bafut With Beagles, TV series, BBC (1958)
- Look (Argentinian Expedition), Single episode in TV series, BBC (1961)
- Two In The Bush, TV series, BBC (1963)
She separated from and divorced Gerald Durrell in 1979 due to his increasing work pressure, and associated drinking problem.
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Institutions associated with: Jersey Zoo • Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust • Wildlife Trust • Wildlife Preservation Canada • Mauritian Wildlife Foundation • Madagascar Fauna Group Co-conservationists: Lee Durrell • David Attenborough • Peter Scott • Jeremy Mallinson • Edward Whitley Expeditions undertaken: Argentina • Australia • Belize • Bhutan • Cameroon • India • Madagascar • Malaysia • Mauritius • Mexico • New Zealand • Paraguay • Russia • Sierra Leone Species associations: Aye-Aye • Gorilla • Mauritius Kestrel • Pink Pigeon • Pigmy Hog • Rockfowl • St. Lucia Parrot • Volcano Rabbit Books authored: The Overloaded Ark • Three Singles to Adventure • The Bafut Beagles • The New Noah • The Drunken Forest • My Family and Other Animals • Encounters with Animals • A Zoo in My Luggage • The Whispering Land • Island Zoo • A Look at Zoos • Menagerie Manor • Two in the Bush • The Donkey Rustlers • Rosie is My Relative • Birds, Beasts and Relatives • Fillets of Plaice • Catch Me a Colobus • Beasts in My Belfry • The Talking Parcel • The Stationary Ark • Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons • The Garden of the Gods • The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium • The Mockery Bird • Ark on the Move • The Amateur Naturalist • How to Shoot an Amateur Naturalist • Durrell in Russia • The Fantastic Flying Journey • The Fantastic Dinosaur Adventure • The Ark's Anniversary • Keeper • Toby the Tortoise • Marrying Off Mother and Other Stories • The Aye-Aye and I • Puppy Tales • The Best of Gerald Durrell Illustrators: Ralph Thompson • Edward Mortelmans • Peter Barrett • Graham Percy • Keith West • Cliff Wright Famous TV Series: Two in the Bush • Catch Me a Colobus • The Garden of the Gods • The Stationary Ark • Ark on the Move • The Amateur Naturalist • Ourselves and Other Animals • Durrell in Russia Notable others: Jacquie Durrell • Lawrence Durrell • Achirimbi II • Theodore Stephanides • Douglas Botting |
