The Darling Buds of May
  • Published: 3 May 2018
  • ISBN: 9780141029672
  • Imprint: Michael Joseph
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 144
  • RRP: $30.00

The Darling Buds of May

Book 1

  • H.E. Bates
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Celebrating 60 perfick years of the Larkins

'Home looks nice. Allus does though, don't it? Perfick'

And so the Larkins - Pop, Ma, Mariette, Zinnia, Petunia, Primrose, Victoria and Montgomery - return from an outing for fish and chips and ice cream one May evening. There, amid the rustic charms of home, they discover a visitor: one Cedric Charlton, Her Majesty's inspector of taxes.

Mr Charlton is visiting to find out why junk-dealer Pop hasn't paid his tax - but nothing's that simple at the Larkins. Mariette takes a shine to 'Charley' - as Pop calls him - and before long the family have introduced the uncomplaining inspector to the delights of country living: the lusty scents of wild flowers, the pleasures of a bottle of Dragon's Blood, cold cream dribbled over a bowl of strawberries and hot, hot summer nights.

In fact, soon Charley can't see any reason to return to the office at all . . .
  • Published: 3 May 2018
  • ISBN: 9780141029672
  • Imprint: Michael Joseph
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 144
  • RRP: $30.00
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Praise for The Darling Buds of May

A pulsing comedy of country manners. A five-alarm blaze of a book. Just about perfick.

Time

A gently, anarchic wish-fulfilling daydream

The Times

A perfick piece of entertainment

New York Times

A wistful daydream about innocence and happiness

Spectator

Pop Larkin, Ma and their progeny . . . are essentially English of the rich and ribald England of Chaucer and Shakespeare. A superb and timeless comedy

Scotsman

As funny as Evelyn Waugh and as enchanting as Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie. Don't miss it

Herald

They are absolute comfort books

The Lady

A gently, anarchic wish-fulfilling daydream

The Times

A perfick piece of entertainment

New York Times

A pulsing comedy of country manners. A five-alarm blaze of a book. Just about perfick

Time

A wistful daydream about innocence and happiness

Spectator

As funny as Evelyn Waugh and as enchanting as Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie. Don't miss it

Herald

Pop is as sexy, genial, generous, and boozy as ever. Ma is a worthy match for him in all these qualities

The Times

Pop Larkin, Ma and their progeny . . . are essentially English of the rich and ribald England of Chaucer and Shakespeare. A superb and timeless comedy

Scotsman

The Larkins live - these novels please us by escaping definition

Guardian