The Darling Buds of May: The Pop Larkin Chronicles [Large Print] [Library Binding]

H. E. Bates (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1993

Three novellas, by the author of Love for Lydia and The Jacaranda Tree, feature the eccentric Larkin family evading taxes, fumbling through summer vacation, and defending themselves in court. 20,000 first printing. TV tie-in.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 644 pages
• Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company. (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560547308
• ISBN-13: 978-1560547303
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,217,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Have you ever cried from laughing too hard?, October 11, 2001

By 

The Book Man (Chilliwack, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The darling buds of May: The Pop Larkin chronicles (Hardcover)

Absurd and hilarious, H.E. Bates introduces you to the strangest family you're ever likely to meet. A tax officer is sent to their house to collect overdue taxes, only to find himself thrown into their somewhat chaotic, but extremely loving and fun life. Set up with the daughter, he throws away his old life to join theirs. Wonderfully written, humorous and kind, one to be read when you're feeling down, or if you're outside enjoying a summer day - best enjoyed with an iced drink and a picnic blanket. H.E. Bates is sure bet for an excellent read - I have read eight novels by Bates now, and have yet to be disppointed.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fifties British humor, May 9, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Darling Buds of May (Larkin Family Chronicles) (Audio Cassette)

Now a BBC video, the Larkin family rollick through Britain of the '50's. I think you have to be both an Anglophile and addicted to out-of-print British authors--both of which am I!--to enjoy this. Nothing less like Angela Thirkell can be thought of--these are the adventures of the Lower Class. And highly enjoyable they are.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You don't know what you're missing, July 23, 2001

By 

F. G. Hamer "MadManxMan" (Isle of Man) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darling Buds of May (Hardcover)

I first read The Darling Buds of May about thirty years ago. Recently BBC added some episodes and turned it into a series starring David Jason, which was acknowledged as the very best of British Comnedy. Incidentally, Catherine Zeta Jones got her big TV break in this series as the beautiful Larkin daughter.

If you get a chance to get hold of a copy of H.E.Bates classic tale of Pop Larkin and his family, you should do so, just for the joy of reading something that is so funny it will split your sides.