The Black Book (1938) is Durrell's first important novel, his portrait and testament of the artist as a young man, and although long regarded as obscene, it is indispensable for an overview of his career. The Revolt of Aphrodite (i.e., Tunc, 1968 and Nunquam, 1970), after the The Alexandria Quartet and The Avignon Quintet, is his most important fiction and his clearest examination of the malaise of contemporary culture.

Some readers prefer this work because of the straightforward approach and the contemporaneity of setting, closer to the present than Durrell's other work. Also indispensable for a satisfactory overview of Durrell's career and a comprehension of his notions of landscape and character are The Greek Islands (1978), and the collection of letters and essays, Spirit of Place (1969), a revealing compendium of major Durrellian themes and concerns.