The Darling Buds of May
  • Published: 18 April 2007
  • ISBN: 9780141902807
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 144

The Darling Buds of May

Inspiration for the ITV drama The Larkins starring Bradley Walsh

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A TV tie-in edition to coincide with the new lavish ITV adaptation THE LARKINS this autumn, starring Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan

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

The Larkins - Pop, Ma, Mariette, Zinnia, Petunia, Primrose, Victoria and Montgomery - return home one May evening to 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' and before long the family have introduced the uncomplaining inspector to the delights of country living.

In fact, soon Charley can't see any reason to return to the office at all . . .
  • Published: 18 April 2007
  • ISBN: 9780141902807
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 144
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About the authors

H.E. Bates

H. E. Bates was born in Northamptonshire in 1905. He published his first novel, The Two Sisters, when he was twenty, and for the next decade built up a reputation as a writer of great versatility. During the Second World War Bates was commissioned by the RAF as a short story writer, where he wrote the acclaimed How Sleep the Brave and The Greatest People in the World. His most popular creation was the effervescent Larkin family about whom he wrote five novels including The Darling Buds of May and A Little of What You Fancy. In 1973 H. E. Bates was awarded the C.B.E. He died in 1974.

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

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

The Times

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

Herald

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

A perfick piece of entertainment

New York Times

A wistful daydream about innocence and happiness

Spectator

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

The Larkins live - these novels please us by escaping definition

Guardian