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  • David Attenborough: The Early Years Collection

  • The BBC Collection
  • By: David Attenborough
  • Narrated by: David Attenborough
  • Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (99 ratings)

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David Attenborough: The Early Years Collection

By: David Attenborough
Narrated by: David Attenborough
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Publisher's Summary

David Attenborough, Britain's voice of natural history, narrates his early adventures in Indonesia, New Guinea and Northern Australia.

David Attenborough first appeared in front of a television camera in the 1950s when, together with London Zoo's Curator of Reptiles, Jack Lester, he persuaded the BBC to mount and film an animal-collecting expedition. The result was Zoo Quest. Specially recorded for audio, David Attenborough's early adventures are sometimes life-threatening, often hilarious and always totally absorbing. The warmth and enthusiasm that have made him a broadcasting legend are instantly apparent here as he recounts this magical journey.

This collection includes three volumes from Attenborough's chronicles of his early expeditions:

In Zoo Quest for a Dragon, Attenborough tells of the crew's hazardous boat trip with a gun-smuggling captain and the terror of erupting volcanoes. He also depicts for the listener some of the incredible sights he and his team witnessed - breathtaking butterflies, taking tea with Charlie the orangutan and the voyage to the little-known island of Komodo to capture the elusive Komodo dragon.

Quest in Paradise describes his next animal collecting and filming trip to New Guinea, home of the exotic birds of paradise. David tells of his adventures during the trip: being an onlooker at a formal lovemaking ceremony, seeing the skills of ritual ax making, trying to master pidgin English and witnessing a 'sing sing' at which hundreds of tribesmen came together from all parts of the country.

In Quest Under Capricorn, David Attenborough ventures to the Northern Territory of Australia. In his first expedition to the other side of the world, he meets Aborigines, goes walkabout in the bush, and learns the craft of the artists of Arnhem Land.

Also included is David Attenborough in His Own Words, a collection of interviews taken from the BBC radio and TV archives.

©2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2014 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about David Attenborough: The Early Years Collection

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David Attenborough as always is great

Such a great book and audiobook such insight to how he started and became the icon he is!

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wonderful

This was a wonderful thing to listen to. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the natural world and dynamic cultures he worked in during the1950s. a lot of what is described in this book no longer exists.it you a fascinating record.

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The Early Years Collection By David Attenbough

I Loved this book and very sad that I have finished it Thank you Sir David I enjoyed this book immensely ..

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A global treasure

A master story teller recounting amazing stories of a much simpler world...a must listen

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Genius

Richard Attenborough is beyond belief. His intelligence, recall ability, narration. Passion and dedication. He must have been so fit to do all the things he did in a day , quite extraordinary. The man is one of a kind and this audible was amazing!

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Too good.

There is only one thing which disappointed me about this book, and that was that it ended. Written spectacularly and read by the man himself, the stories are so exciting and eventful you sometimes can’t believe this was his life. Would love to read accounts like this from every one of his adventures.

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Had me intrigued and laughing the whole way

I've always been a fan of this man, so I was pretty sure I'd enjoy this audiobook. But I didnt expect to find it quite as funny and interesting as I did.

Something I really like about this is the way Attenborough gives insight into how both the industry and he himself have changed over the years. Some of the things that happen in these accounts, would surely be looked down upon these days, but he keeps the account true to the time they occured, not warping them to make himself seem better in the present.

A really good listen, that I'd suggest to anyone else who likes this man

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Spellbinding

Loved this book. So interesting to see the evolution of David himself over the years.

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Absolutely uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable.

The adventures of the young David Attenborough are a great insight into one of the most amazing individuals of my lifetime. His stories about Indonesia, Northern Australia and PNG show the measures of the man. It will be a sad day when he passes and the world will be the poorer for it. Attenborough is an inspirational figure who says it how it is. He is passionate about the state of our environment without being a bigot or an evangelist. One of the best audio books I have listened to.

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