Just when life is looking good for the Durrells, Louisa learns her domineering Aunt Hermione, Hermione's neurotic niece, Cousin Prue and Prue's lumpen husband, Geoffrey will be visiting. As true Anglophiles they complain about the primitive nature of the island and view what the family are achieving with distaste. Hermione is unimpressed that when Larry isn't furious about his latest book rejection, he spends his entire time in his bedroom with his newly arrived girlfriend, Nancy.