Editing Gerald Durrell (section)

=== ''The Drunken Forest'' and ''The New Noah'' ===
To bring in more money, Durrell wrote an account of the South American trip, titled ''[[The Drunken Forest]]'', and as soon as that was turned in to the publisher he began a children's book, ''[[The New Noah]]''.  This was a compilation of anecdotes from the various expeditions of the previous ten years.  Durrell disliked writing: Jacquie and Sophie "cajoled and bullied" him, in the words of his biographer, during the writing of ''The Drunken Forest'', and when it looked as though he would never finish ''The New Noah'' they began writing a final chapter for it, prompting Durrell to return to the book and complete it.<ref name=":8">Botting (1999), p. 216.</ref>

''The Bafut Beagles'' was released on 15 October 1954, and it was made Book of the Month by [[World Books]], a book club; this guaranteed substantial sales, and Hart-Davis celebrated with a dinner in Durrell's honour at the [[Savoy Hotel|Savoy hotel]].<ref name=":8" />  In November Durrell gave a sold-out lecture at the Royal Festival Hall, illustrating the talk with ''ex tempore'' cartoon drawings, and showing film of the capture of an anaconda from the Guiana trip.<ref>Botting (1999), pp. 217–218.</ref>  Reviews for ''The Bafut Beagles'' were ecstatic, and it became a best-seller and the first printing rapidly sold out.  It was widely considered Durrell's best book to date.<ref>Botting (1999), pp. 218–219.</ref>  Some reviewers commented that the book was not suitable for all audiences; there were plenty of references to the animal's lavatory and sexual habits, and to drinking alcohol.  The review in ''[[The Spectator]]'' commented that there were no moral judgements about animal collecting, or about [[colonialism]]: "He attempts no explanations ...{{nbsp}}he passes no moral judgements; he is absorbed wholly in particulars{{nbsp}}... [he has] no recipes for the future of the dark continent".<ref>Botting (1999), pp. 219–220.</ref>

In 1955 Gerald and Jacquie visited Lawrence in [[Cyprus]] for two months, planning to make two films for television; Gerald had considered Cyprus as a possible location for the zoo he wanted to establish one day.  While they were in [[Nicosia]] a terrorist campaign against the British by [[EOKA|Greek separatists]] began, with bombs exploding all over the city.  The plans for a zoo and the films were abandoned, though the Durrells did make a film about a Cypriot village while they were there.<ref>Botting (1999), pp. 223–224.</ref>  In June, Gerald and Jacquie returned to the UK and rented a flat in [[Woodside Park, Barnet|Woodside Park]], in north London.  Durrell developed [[jaundice]], and while ill he decided to write a book about his childhood in Corfu.<ref>Botting (1999), pp. 225–226.</ref>