Adrian Rookwhistle, the long-suffering hero of Gerald Durrell’s first novel Rosy Is My Relative, leads an arduously ordinary life. So it is extremely perturbing when it is suddenly invaded by a dying reprobate relation who bequeaths him Rosy, an endearing elephant with a taste for liquor. Set in 1900, this hilarious novel is a perfection of wit from start to finish. Its colourful plot is matched with a whirlwind of equally colourful characters, making this comic havoc a real charmer.
In a distinctively prolific way, Durrell engages us in the tale of Adrian and Rosy as they set off towards the coast in search of a circus to sell Adrian’s “vast, blubbering protégée”. Rosy leads him to encounter many new affairs as their journey progresses, ranging from aristocrats to strolling actors to white witches, and, eventually, to love. Everyone who meets Rosy falls in love with her “natural bonhomie”, except, of course, her hapless victims. The pair tramp across the peaceful countryside of Southern England, putting their feet in the most troublesome places, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos behind them. In due course the constabulary catches up with them, and their ensuing trial is a triumph of the law and Rosy’s tremendous grace. In spite of all this, the author claims that his work of fiction is “almost a true story”- but then the story has to be read to be believed, if then. Durrell is, of course, an animal worshipper and is respected worldwide for his love of and work for animals. The man who wrote the bestsellers The Overloaded Ark, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and My Family and Other Animals has shown, through this superbly narrated novel, that his strengths not only lie in preserving animals, but also in writing about them. Absorbing and skillfully paced, his story is told with amazing ingenuity and a deliciously droll style which few writers can produce. This is established just in the first sentence: “Unaware that doom was overtaking him, Adrian Rookwhistle, in his shirt sleeves, was occupied in making faces at himself in his looking glass.” Then Durrell introduces Rosy- sagacious, affectionate, lovable, who has the habit of getting drunk on cherry brandy and other heady potions- and who turns out to be a “giant encumbrance” to Adrian. Adrian, a man who “at seven o’clock every morning would stand in his attic bedroom and commune with his refection”, is a nervy young fellow. To him, Rosy represents the chance to get away from a city shop and suburban lodging by exploiting her theatrical talent and experience. To Rosy, their journey represents offers of undreamed-of opportunities for drink and destruction. Written simply and humorously, with that extra bit of detail which makes it enchanting, this light novel is lively and engrossing to read.
Convincingly uproarious and consistently funny, this book will highly entertain and appeal to readers of all ages. At times romantic (yet mercifully free of slushy sentimentality), there is a lighthearted, comical atmosphere throughout, told with that typically merry Durrell tone. As the story unfolds, readers will find themselves sharing Adrian’s increasing fondness for Rosy, “his only living relative”.