The Entrance by Gerald Durrell
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- Опубліковано 11 сер 2022
- The Entrance by Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell was born in Jamshedpur which was then part of British India, in 1925 and died in St Hellier, Jersey in 1995, aged 70.
This story, The Entrance was published in his collection The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium in 1979. This title was renamed The Picnic and Other Inimitable Stories though I suspect that someone who didn’t understand the word pandemonium would struggle with inimitable too. But that’s marketing for you. His family’s life has been the subject of a popular TV series “My Family & Other Animals” taken from the title of one of his books.
He was a prolific writer, usually of light, comic fiction and autobiography and a life-long animal lover who set up the Jersey Zoo. Those of you who read these notes will probably predict offended comments about animals being hurt in The Entrance and how zoos are bad. My only comments are: it’s fiction. There were no animals, and; attitudes change over times. I don’t think he set up a zoo because he was a wicked man who wanted to hurt animals. Zoos were uncontroversial once. Those who don’t make comments on videos expressing their hurt and offence probably won’t read the notes.
Durrell’s famous siblings is the author and poet Lawrence Durrell. In his early years, as his family were middle class and British, he had an Indian nurse called an ayah. He ascribes his lifelong love of animals to a visit to a zoo when he was small in India. The family moved to the Crystal Palace area of London (with its concrete dinosaurs) and he avoided going to school by pretending to be ill. In 1939 the family moved to Corfu, Grreece and Durrell began to build his menagerie. This period of his life was an inspiration of his many books.
Because of the Second World War, the family moved back to England and he ended up working in an aquarium and a pet store. He was not medically fit to be a soldier but ended up working on a farm. After the war he went to work at Whipsnade Zoo. After that, he got a job collecting animals for zoos by visiting Africa and South America. He was known for treating his animals well, which caused him financial difficulties .
He founded his own zoo in Jersey in 1959.
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The Entrance was recommended to me by Alison Waddell. It is a frame story and thus hearkens back to the classic ghost story tales which are often told as frames and often feature old, occult manuscripts. Gerald Durrell goes to meet his charming, slightly comic friends in Provence. They hand him a manuscript they found in Marseilles that belonged to a strange man called Dr Le Pitre. Dr Le Pitre is another layer to the story that seems quite unnecessary to me, but I might be missing something. The manuscript dated as March 16th 1901 features a lengthy set up of a Victorian (the old queen died on 22 January 1901, but her influence lingered a few months at least) antiquarian book dealer (very M R James) who is stalked by a strange foreigner on a foggy night in London (so far so trope, and I suspect that Durrell was doing this to play with the genre). He gets a mysterious warning from his friend about the family, but becomes great mates with this aristocratic frenchman. Ultimately we see that this was a grift and Durrell drops a few ominous sentences along the lines of “If I knew then what I know now”. “That was my gravest mistake” which sort of spoilt the surprise of the twist at the end.
But it’s full Gothic. Alone in an ancient chateau in terrible weather, cut off by snow with a lurking monster in the mirrors. Instead of strange old servitors he has some friendly animals. Again he can’t help himself intruding the comic parrot and friendly cat and dog. The canaries don’t get a speaking part. I wondered how such a monster kept such happy pets?
In fact we have pea soup fog in London, thunder and lightning in Provence and heavy snow in Gorge du Tarn. Classic stuff.
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As a lifelong reader yet no longer able to read for more than a few minutes at a time, and on a fixed income (a subscription to Audible is not possible), your audiobooks are a godsend. Thank you so much for making this old woman's day.
You are very welcome . You made my day by saying that
I too cannot read as I used to. I have just discovered this channel. The stories are very good and the narration just right. Tank you.
I just love your narration. The stories are excellent. This one is a favorite!
I'll send for you
We love Tony!
People who get offended over reflections of fictional animals. Only deserve fictional apologies. Good story Mr. Tony 👍
i like that . i may use it with your permission
Holy cow, Tony. That was magnificent! I was on the edge of my seat the whole way. What a brilliant story!! Poor Gideon. And Peter, of course
Didn’t even realise that Gerald Durrell ever wrote stories like this? Thank you so much✊♥️
I know!!!!! I have always been a HUGE fan of my family and other Animals and was so surprised and hope I will enjoy it as much as I did his animal books
@@michelleduplooymalherbe2837 I third this!
I think this is the only one he wrote. At least the most popular one.
Lordie this one scared the heck out of me! The narration phenomenal!
Yeah this was one of the best stories I’ve heard on platforms like this. Very well performed by a reader who had read the story and is great at his work. Bravo, this is by far one of the better ghost story readings ever. The story was great with great reader. Bravo old chap
FINALLY a Gothic horror that doesn't make my mind wander to housework!
So Gerald Durrell wrote Gothic horror, who'd have guessed! -- And, that he's so focused on fine wines and food (imagine eating truffles en croute and partridge at one home, and dining on steak-and-kidney pie followed by apple tart at home, all the while proudly drinking fine, rare wines).... this from the guy who collected rare animals in the Amazon bush!
ABSOLUTELY CHILLING, I LOVED this, I was a huge Durrell fan and read this when I was about 14 and forgot how good it was, yr voice just brings it alive, absolutely outstanding reading Tony!👻❤️
I appreciate the photo in your profile too. takes me back to my grandmother's house
You read the entrance at 14?? That’s a bizarre childhood read no..
I read it at around the same age; my mum had loads of GD's books and The Entrance was the final story from 'The Picnic and suchlike Pandemonium'.
I both loved and loathed it due to the animal deaths and the descriptive way that they were written (as well as the creature).
Despite that, I never forgot it as it's such a wonderfully put-together story and very unusual compared to Gerald's others...
That was an awesome story cliff hanger! THANKS FOR SHARING!
Thank you so much, my favourite so far, over 2 hours of pure escapism!
What a service.
Proper scary story ❤🖤. I started listening at night and had to leave off until the sun was high in the sky. The pace and changing tone of the narration was fantastic, as usual.
I’ve laughed so hard at Darrell’s books. But I’ve now experienced his darker side. Was pleased to know the animals were mere reflections.
I have a new addiction. This is one of the best stories I've heard in a long time.
The sweet animals gave me a feeling of connection to the man, it gave him an appearance of normalcy, which made the horror of his gradually increasing experience even more disturbing. I am entranced by your performance and look forward to exploring your channel!.
This was amazing. I had no clue Durrell wrote such macabre stories. And your narration is amazing as always. Thank you.
I don't recall when I enjoyed a story so much: you just keep getting better and better. Thankyou so much for the happiness and learning you give us.
Well thank you very much Tomsdottir
Ok this story, with it's few inconsistencies, scared the bejesus outta me Tony. One thing I was wondering about was that our hero dropped the axe in a room as he was fleeing so I thought perhaps Uncle/Gideon would use that to get thru doors and mirrors, or as a murdering tool. But although I was a bit confused at times I was mostly drawn in, then terrified. Let me add I'm on my own tonight and my dogs refuse to sleep with me, which is highly unusual but I'm guessing (hoping) it's only because they've moved to cooler areas as it's quite a warm night even with the a/c cranking away. So very long comment to say dammit I'm beyond creeped out and likely will be wide eyed till dawn. 😳 Good job 💜
I hope you slept. Nothing worse than not sleeping
Cover yr mirrors!!!!!!
@@ClassicGhost Idk Tony...I rarely sleep, which is my normal...unfortunately. Thank goD for this channel 💜
FANTASTIC!!! You broke your record with this one!
Wonderfully narrated (as always), and it has every element of horror that I find most appealing in a story! 🤩💎 Thank you for the exquisite reading!
Thank you Rosa :)
I absolutely agree!
I am late! I Listened last night (way too late!), and swear I stopped breathing more than once. A brilliant reading of a terrifying story.
So well narrated, your voice Tony was perfect for this ghostly story. Scared to look in the mirror now, better get ready for bed as it is near the bewitching hour.
Excellent to hear this Durrell story...and I appreciated your notes too 😄
It’s very good, indeed. I’m quite enjoying it.
Simply loved Gerald Durrell and was fascinated by his books detailing wildlife, and especially his later journey to Patagonia. I never knew that he had written ghost stories thi , thank you so much!
I listen to your stories every night to put me to sleep. As soon as I hear "you tried to get into the locked drawer" I have to be in my comfy sleeping position with my mini blinds covering my eyes! Sometimes I wake up and you're still talking and I feel comforted and drift back off
Me too x
A wonderful read! Thanks.
Just wanted to say there *is* a but of foreshadowing which, to me, is a big tell: the blood-opal ring. This tells me the monster is Gideon himself, whether possessed (years earlier) by the uncle or not. Maybe he killed the uncle; maybe the uncle possessed him after draining his life to prolong his own (hinted at by the fight Edward overheard back when Gideon was a teenager), but either way the Gideon who befriended the narrator is the same as the monster that almost killed him.
Thanks again!
I have to say that was one of the best stories. I usually fall asleep halfway through most. This was so suspenseful it kept me awake. I had to hear it through. Great Job !!
I listen to help fall asleep, then I have to listen again at work the next day to hear the entire story. This one kept me awake the entire time!!! I'm usually a terrible sleeper. Mr Walkers voice helps relax me. Even my asshole siamese cats jumps on the bed now to listen. I think she likes my chill vibe while I'm listening.
Grisly, macabre, but excellent story. (except when the cat was used as bait) Masterful reading, as usual.
If you slept during this, start it over right now. This one really had me involved in the story. Great job, Tony!
Not just me then!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this x
I am working and I just listened to this story. Fantastic!! WOW!! I am glad it is 3:40 pm and I am in the bright light of my office. Thank you, Tony!!! Have a great weekend!
I sat at the edge of my stool completely embraced in this story... Thank you my friend...
Hi Tony Liz here. Superb! Yes I had to listen again this morning. Very creepy story and had no idea Gerald Durrell wrote horror. I loved the idea the animals were only hurt in the mirror. Durrell was a good man. I've been listening with my beautiful new pup nestled on my lap. Thanks heaps from New Zealand.
Sotires by heart is a great idea! I used to do that with "The Terrible Old Man." I would tell a few of my family members the story as we sat around. My grandmother always liked it when I told that story. I miss my chats with her ❤.
Man do I need this...you have no idea. 💜
:))))
Omg! Again MOST scary! Also, I found myself wanting to yell at the character, much like a Doctor character who lets an otherworldly taken body in the safety of a well structured safe house!!! Also, I kinda cringed with the animals being thrown to the “evil” one.
My grandfather has been put on Hospice as of yesterday, so I might bring a little more sensitive.
PS Tony, thanks again.
I’m going to become a member on YT for my Valentines gift.
I wish you & your family a lovely celebration of sooo much red…🌹 !
Oh my goodness. Listened on the drive to work and back home .Couldn't stop listening when I got home. Thank you.
Great! Lovely to hear that
A good one! Thank you. The protagonist was too timid, a bit of a pussycat. Dropped the axe!
Thanks for doing this story which brought back memories of my childhood and teenage years in the early 1980s when I discovered Gerald Durrell's books as I was then and still am very interested in natural history. I read and collected all of his many books as well as the two books of his first wife Jacquie Durrell, whose books are just as good as those of Gerald and give a different perspective of their life together collecting and looking after wild animals. I remember reading this short story in about 1982 as featured in The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium. I have also been an avid reader and collector of horror and Gothic novels since the early 1980s. This story combines the Gothic and animals, so perfect for my tastes! The naturalist WH Hudson was also a great writer on natural history, and he too wrote some excellent supernatural and Gothic tales worth checking out. Gerald Durrell and WH Hudson are my two favourite all-time authors. I have read most of their works.
I really enjoy W.H.Hudson also. Thank you for mentioning him.
Thanks Tony, you're a vocal legend!
Thanks for listening. Thanks for the tip!
Liked the story & stayed awake all the way through. The nephew said that his uncle was 90 but he looked 50.
Now I've listened to it all,
Thanks again Tony.
I really needed a long story to keep my mind focused away from worry.
Chuffed to hear my comment,
but as of hearing this, the rain has come and the blossom and narcissis have bust forth.
Hope your trip away is going well.
🙃
My most fortunate book purchase came from an antiquarian bookshop in Leeds (now closed) and was a multi volume edition of the works of Sir Walter Scott, book plated, signed and dated William Wood, Haworth from the 1840s. I gave this to my then girlfriend Ann for her birthday. She did some research using her resources as curator of the Brontë Parsonage Museum and identified it as belonging to William Wood the cabinet maker from Haworth who made the coffins in which the Brontë family were buried within the church next to the parsonage. Quite a thrill for me
In reply to your end summary…..we do seem to be living through the age of the offended….all we can do is keep calm and carry on . Great ghost story great narration ❤
This is an awesome story- great presentation! Loved it!
That was actually horrible. Poor guy was such a good friend to Gideon….
Ahhhhh mirror stuff gets me every single time 😮 Forget a scary monster or a ghost. Just the simple thought of a mirror not reflecting reality is a different level of terrifying.
well, well, what a surprise, I have known and loved Gerald Durell books all my life, but was not aware that he wrote ghost stories as well, loved My family and other Animals (it played a HUGE part in my life)and could not believe it when I found this, can't wait to hear it and hope I enjoy it as much as I did his other novels. Thank you
Masterful, gripping horrifying narration. Truly scary also this time around. Am avoiding all mirrors and protecting Dog Nico likewise. You are the best, Tony. Thank you for all you do for us.
How Nico is well (and you too of course)
Nico is fine,now, thank you for asking. Nico loves listening to your stories with me. He, however falls asleep, I cannot. Too scary. but that is the point! :0) @@ClassicGhost
Always such a lovely treat listening to your renditions of these wonderful ghost stories ❤
I loved every second, especially the failed artists, thanks as always!
Thank you for the warning about harming animals. It’s extremely upsetting for me to even think about such things so I appreciate being able to avoid it.
Loved this
That was such a treat! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed listening. I remember reading Gerald Durrell when I was a child and loved the tales of his eccentric family. This story is incredibly evocative. The descriptions of the seasons--the fog, the spring, the snow--are wonderful. Thank you so much for your channel.
Great read great book!!
Wow, what a story! Thank you for such a wonderful narration!
All the best from Germany :-)
Thank you very much!
Excellent story! Read brilliantly!
When the creature looked back my blood ran cold. Such a unique and imaginative theme.
Great story, I didn't know G Durrel wrote stories like this.
I love, love, love this story. I was totally immersed. I’ve recently discovered your channel and I love it ❤. Your narration is wonderful. I love the little lecture you give afterwards. It makes me want to go back and research these authors and their time period. Thank you for everything you do.
Terrifying. I started listening at bedtime and was so focused on the story that I was unable to fall asleep…not so much out of fear, but completely engaged by the story. My nerves are stirred up and I guess it might find it hard falling asleep tonight. If I were reading it, I would call it a page-turner. An excellent reading! I’m listening on November 15, 2023
people either love or hate this story . i’m glad to see you are in the former camp! 🏕️
Me & my whiskered troublemakers enjoyed your reading ... *Bo Cat* really had a good nap on his back next to me while we listened & *Dax Cat* on the dresser
This is a really cool story. Great writing and narration. It is very unique....one of a kind. I have never heard of this author, but I glean from the comments he had quite an interesting life and wrote many great stories.
Great job picking this one. He needed a flammenwerfer to take care of that darn thing!
Great job! Thanks!
Lovely narration. My favourite books. Thank you from Cape Town.
The chemistry of the writing with the narration sparked my imagination very powerfully and visually, producing genuine fear 😱. I agree with your comments about the anomalies in the plot but it didn't detract too much. I'm clammy as I write, but then it's a warm humid night here in Yorkshire. Thanks Tony 👍
Hot night here too last night. Thanks for the kind words
Just what I needed! Thank you 🙏
Really enjoying listening to this Tony, thanks so much
Thanks for listening
thank you this was brilliant! I was gripped from beginning to end. Beautifully narrated!
Marvellously read!
Thanks, Tony, for reading this story -- as excellently as ever, and this being one of my favorite 'horror stories'. Possibly because it's so unexpected coming from this author, but even aside from who-woulda-thought? value I think it's a solid story on its own terms. It's one I keep coming back to, over the years; it's as rich linguistically and semiotically as its food and drink and mise-en-scene. Very glad to see this story get any love, and your reading set the standard for me.
This prose is enchanting and the narration is equally so. Seems "Pied Piperish?“ What a treat! ❤️
Loved this tale!! Thanks for sharing.
Great story and I loved your reading of it! You were amazing! Thank you!
Love this story.. my favorite from GD .. and you can still feel just how much he loves all the animals:)
Very good! A nice long story too.
Thanks as always.
How frightening! You did it justice and then some.
Wow! Once again Tony you have sent me deep into the canyons of my mind. Thank you so much.
Really enjoyed that! Thank you 😊
This got so creepy I had to turn it off and come back to finish later. Well done!
That's what we are looking for
That was fabulous!! Well done indeed, thank you
Gripping, terrifying, wonderful.
So engrossed in the story and the masterful telling of it that I forgot the potatoes were cooking and they boiled over on the hob!
+anna greening very sorry about that Anna!
I really enjoyed your read and discussion at the end. Thank you!
This one had me riveted and was genuinely scary! On reflection, (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun) it brought to mind one segment of the iconic portmanteau movie "Dead of Night". I'm talking of the segment featuring a haunted mirror which did not reflect the actual room, but the room as it was sometime in the past where a horrific murder took place.
Back to this story: I may be wrong but wasn't there a scene in the London segment where the Count arrives haggard and stays overnight, and takes a bath, and "accidentally" breaks the bathroom mirror a and shampoo bottle? I understood this to be the moment the evil uncle came through to the real world and somehow possessed him? Interested to know if anyone else thought that.
Anyway, thank you so much for a wonderful read of a chilling story. I used to work at Chester Zoo by the way ... And have read Durrell"s autobiography many years ago. So the story had extra levels of interest for me. Well done yet again Tony! Can't wait for the next one...
"Clair de Lune" is such a good name for a cat. I might have to steal that.
This was fabulous. It's now winter and this made for a chilling afternoon treat. Love the commentary at the end! Bravo.
Oh my lord, love this one.
You are the best story teller.
Would like to hear another J. D. story please
I liked this one. Starts off nice and cozy with some sweet animals... then the terror. I loved all the details he put in; really engaged the senses and painted a detailed picture in my mind. While "hump in the road" isn't too funny, I have to admit "humps for 300 yards" does elicit a good chuckle from me.
Very well done. Always love a happy ending.
I really enjoyed this story. Some friend!
Nice singing 👌
This is one of your best readings yet. Scary and suspenseful.
Thank you very much!
Fantastic story ❤
I love this! Thank you💗so much
That was a surprise & I am fighting to stay awake! And it's not really one for a good night's slumber! I wonder if this was made into a horror film, but I'm thinking not - but when I was young, I did catch a glimpse of a (probably) Hammer Horror film with a horrible creeping white hand! I wouldn't have thought this was THE Gerald Durrell - I did go to Jersey Zoo, I s'pose not long before he died & saw him on his quad bike checking the animals. Yes, when you love animals it's hard for them to be foul, let alone anything wicked happen to them - the humans - but not the animals!! Good story, well told! How about Moonfleet, I'd love for you to read that.
I do like Moonfleet and so that's a good idea. Just don't know when
Excellent!
Wonderful.
I've read a bunch of these comments and agree with everyone...this is your best so far. Outstanding!
Oh good! Glad you liked it :)))
Excellent story, thx for posting
Thank you! Very well done, I enjoyed this all around. Worth hearing several times. I especially appreciated your comments at the end, quite a perk!
New subscriber. Really great narrarating, and interesting post-story info. Nice work!
This is a masterpiece of horror & narration, my God.....I literally just installed an absolutely huge mirror, so big it required a French cleat to hang, in my small dining room about three weeks ago, I love it because it makes the room seem so much bigger.....I feel like a little kid at the moment, scared of something that I know is harmless.....and you know what I say to that? BRAVO 👏👏👏
We LOVE Tony!
Fabulously narrated. This 1 was great. I was absolutely terrified.
That was my evil plan