Margaret "Margo" Isabel Mabel Durrell (May 4, 1920 – January 16, 2007) was an influential figure in her own right, known for being the younger sister of renowned novelist Lawrence Durrell and the elder sister of celebrated naturalist Gerald Durrell. Her character is humorously depicted in Gerald’s beloved Corfu Trilogy, which includes *My Family and Other Animals*, *Birds, Beasts and Relatives*, and *The Garden of the Gods*.
Born in British India, Margo spent her early years in both India and England. In 1935, she joined her family—including her mother and brothers—on the picturesque island of Corfu, where her eldest brother Lawrence had settled. While her family returned to England in 1939 due to World War II, Margo felt a strong connection to Corfu and chose to remain, living in a rural cottage alongside local friends.
Her life took a turn when she met Royal Air Force pilot Jack Breeze, who persuaded her to leave the island. The couple married in 1940 and spent the war years in South Africa before settling in Bournemouth, where they had two sons, Gerry and Nicholas. After her marriage ended, Margo transformed a large property near her mother's home into a boarding house, where Gerald Durrell initially housed animals for his zoo.
Margo's memoir, *Whatever Happened to Margo?*, published in 1995 after being discovered by her granddaughter, offers a witty glimpse into her life as a landlady in post-war Bournemouth and the dynamics of the Durrell family. Margo passed away at 86, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with her family's literary and naturalist pursuits.
