Gerald Durrell (1925–1995) was a famous English zoologist and traveler, one of the iconic figures of the 20th century. Durrell's books have long formed the golden fund of world literature and are very popular among readers worldwide. Obsessed from childhood with the idea of creating his own zoo, Durrell rented an estate on the island of Jersey, where he housed the first animals brought from West Africa. For representatives of South American fauna, Durrell, his wife Jackie, and secretary Sophie had to travel to Argentina. "The Whispering Land" describes their eight-month journey across the country, including long hours of driving along the coast in search of penguins, sea lions, and—the main goal of the expedition—elephant seals. Along the way, Durrell and his companions also encountered other wildlife inhabiting the Argentinian pampas: from insects to parrots, from armadillos to penelopes. Some of these later also became residents of the Jersey Zoo. "The Estate-Zoo" is a collection of stories about the life of the nursery founded by Durrell. From the notes of the famous zoologist, you will learn about the specifics of the zoo’s setup, the arrival of eagerly awaited offspring among its residents, and, of course, the touching and sometimes amusing interactions between animals and the people who cared for them. The edition contains illustrations by the famous British artist Ralph Thompson.