What Is The Correct Reading Order Of The My Family And Other Animals Series?

The order for Gerald Durrell's 'My Family and Other Animals' is confusing with 'Birds, Beasts, and Relatives' and 'The Garden of the Gods' — need a definitive list.
2026-08-04 22:35:22
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10 Answers

LeviJay
LeviJay
Book Guide Translator
Okay, so you've got 'My Family and Other Animals' first, which is the classic memoir about Gerald Durrell's childhood on Corfu. Then you'd read 'Birds, Beasts, and Relatives', which continues those adventures. The final book in that Corfu trilogy is 'The Garden of the Gods'. That's the chronological order of the childhood stories. After that, his adult life and founding of the zoo is covered in other works like 'The Overloaded Ark', but those are separate series.

Stick to those three for the core 'family on Corfu' experience. They're all delightful, full of warmth and hilarious observations about his family and the natural world.
2026-08-05 14:40:00
19
EllenLee
EllenLee
Story Interpreter Sales
It's just three books, thankfully. Start with the titular 'My Family and Other Animals'. Then proceed to 'Birds, Beasts, and Relatives'. Cap it off with 'The Garden of the Gods'. That's the entire narrative of his Corfu childhood.

After that, if you crave more Durrell, his other series begins with 'The Overloaded Ark', which documents his first animal-collecting expedition as an adult. Totally different vibe—more adventure, less domestic comedy—but his writing style is equally engaging.
2026-08-06 03:53:55
5
DanaBurns
DanaBurns
Book Guide Journalist
Isn't it lovely when a series order is just... logical? No convoluted timelines, no alternate universes. Just a man remembering his childhood in three chunks, in the order he lived them.

Start at the start. Finish at the finish. The titles even hint at the focus: first the family and animals, then the broader natural world, then a place so beautiful it's divine. It's a perfect structure.
2026-08-06 04:19:52
11
AdamHill
AdamHill
Sharp Observer Veterinarian
My copy of 'The Garden of the Gods' has a preface that mentions it's the final volume of the Corfu trilogy. So the books themselves tell you the order. Just check the author's note or the blurb in the front matter.

Often, publishers will state 'the final book in the beloved Corfu trilogy' right there. So if you pick up a volume and it says that, you know you're looking at book three. The first one won't have that note.
2026-08-07 05:59:06
3
GreenVibe
GreenVibe
Bibliophile Firefighter
I'm waiting for someone to post a controversial, wrong order just to stir the pot. Like, 'Actually, you should read the second book first to create a non-linear narrative experience.' Please don't. This isn't 'Cloud Atlas' or 'Pulp Fiction'. It's a charming, linear memoir.

The correct order is the one that tells the story from beginning to end. Any other approach is trying to be clever with something that works perfectly well being straightforward. Don't overcomplicate comfort reading.
2026-08-08 11:15:44
16
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