Whatever Happened to Margo?

Margaret Durrell starts a boarding house in Bournemouth in 1947, but the tenants are eccentrics, including a painter of nudes and two young nurses. Her own sons, Gerry and Nicholas, are mischievous, and her famous Uncle Gerald returns with weird and wonderful animals.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2018
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

In 1947, Margaret Durrell, faced with the challenge of returning to the UK with two young children to support, took a bold step by opening a boarding house in Bournemouth. However, her hopes of establishing a respectable reputation were quickly dashed when the tenants who moved in revealed themselves to be a diverse group of eccentrics. Among them were a painter of nudes, a pair of glamorous young nurses who worked late-night shifts and entertained a steady stream of gentleman callers, leading to a neighborhood rumor that Margo was running a brothel.

Adding to the chaos, Margo's own two sons, Gerry and Nicholas, proved to be just as mischievous as their famous Uncle Gerald. He would frequently visit them with an array of exotic animals, ranging from marmosets to monkeys, which were not well-suited for life in a Bournemouth garden. The boarding house quickly became a hub of unconventional living, with laughter, gossip, and unexpected adventures filling the air. Despite the challenges, Margaret remained resilient and dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable home for her tenants, creating a unique and unforgettable community.

Margaret Durrell's boarding house in Bournemouth was a testament to her determination and resilience in the face of adversity. It was a place where eccentric characters came together to form a vibrant and unconventional community, and where the boundaries between respectability and chaos were blurred. The story of the boarding house serves as a reminder that life is full of surprises and that sometimes, the most unexpected moments can lead to the most memorable experiences.

Weight: 200g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241982815