Can anyone name this Gerald Durrell book - incl. ghost story.

[jamiesam]

A long long time ago I lent to a friend a book of short stories by Gerald Durrell, never got it back, lost touch with friend. I would really like to find this book and read it again. One of the stories is a ghost story - chap goes to catalogue the library of owner of a french chateau - will go into more detail if you want, but he ends up in jail, awaiting the guillotine for murdering the owner of the chateau.

Does this ring a bell with anyone?

Can't answer your question, I'm afraid, but he went off the boil as an author after My Family and Other Animals, didn't he, and ended up writing sad sponsorship-linked kids' stories about Andrex puppies while his brother Larry/Lawrence got loads of literary acclaim I loved My Family... but don't think I've read any others, except Puppy on Holiday or some such.

Awww, Fauxvampire - I haven't read any of his kids stories, will give them a wide berth.

Anyone else??? (it is a GREAT ghost story btw)

It is called The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium jamiesam. I have it in front of me as I type.

The ghost story you mention is the last story in the book and is called The Entrance.

You can buy it here

Wooo hoooo!!!! Thankyou NelsonsGirl, you're an absolute star