Animals
As a child, Gerald was fascinated with animals, which is indicated by his vast descriptions of animals in the novels. He describes many different animals, from pelicans, to dogs and owls. Gerald describes a mantid in the following passage:
“Among the myrtles, the mantids moved, lightly, carefully, swaying slightly, the quintessence of evil. They were lank and green, with chinless faces and monstrous globular eyes, frosty gold, with an expression of intense, predatory madness in them. The crooked arms, with their fringes of sharp teeth, would be raised in mock supplication to the insect world, so humble, so fervent, trembling slightly when a butterfly flew too close.”
Corfu
Much of the novel is concerned with describing Corfu, a beautiful Greek Island. Gerald's descriptions are so vivid and beautiful, that his novels inspired many people to visit Corfu. For example, in the following passage he describes the sea and wildlife:
“The sea was smooth, warm and as dark as black velvet, not a ripple disturbing the surface. The distant coastline of Albania was dimly outlined by a faint reddish glow in the sky. Gradually, minute by minute, this faint glow deepened and grew brighter, spreading across the sky. Then suddenly the moon, enormous, wine-red, edged herself over the fretted battlement of mountains and threw a straight blood-red path across the dark sea. The owls appeared now, drifting from tree to tree as silently as flakes of soot, hooting in astonishment as the moon rose higher and higher, turning to pink, then gold, and finally riding in a nest of stars, like a silver bubble.”
Mealtimes
Gerald often describes the food he eats in Corfu, as his mother is an avid chef, and enjoys cooking with new ingredients. Gerald's mealtimes were often spent with family, making them have a symbolic significance. For example, Gerald describes breakfast in the following passage:
“Breakfast was, on the whole, a leisurely and silent meal, for no member of the family was very talkative at that hour. By the end of the meal, the influence of the coffee, toast, and eggs made itself felt, and we started to revive, to tell each other what we intended to do, why we intended to do it, and then argue earnestly as to whether each had made a wise decision.”
