John Murray David Attenborough 2 Books Collection Set

This two-book set from John Murray brings together David Attenborough’s early travel writing, drawn from his time as a young BBC television presenter on the Zoo Quest expeditions. Beginning in 1954, he is offered the opportunity to travel in search of rare and elusive animals for London Zoo’s collection, while filming the journeys for broadcast.

Across both volumes, Attenborough and his team travel through demanding terrain and changeable weather, staying with local tribes and encountering a wide range of wildlife. The collection also follows later journeys beyond the initial expeditions, with Attenborough and his cameraman companion recording not only animals, but also the lives and traditions of indigenous communities that were largely unfamiliar to the British public at the time.

Included titles

• Adventures of a Young Naturalist
• Journeys to the Other Side of the World

Key details

• Two-book collection set
• Author: David Attenborough
• Publisher: John Murray
• Based on the BBC Zoo Quest expeditions

Synopses

Adventures of a Young Naturalist

In 1954, David Attenborough begins travelling widely to find rare and elusive animals for London Zoo’s collection, while filming the expeditions for the BBC. The account follows voyages to Guyana, Indonesia and Paraguay, as the team navigates difficult landscapes, unpredictable weather and close encounters with wildlife.

Journeys to the Other Side of the World

Following the success of the original Zoo Quest expeditions, Attenborough undertakes further travels in a different part of the world. Visiting Madagascar, New Guinea, the Pacific Islands and Australia’s Northern Territory, he and his cameraman companion set out to record wildlife alongside the lives and traditions of indigenous people in these regions.