Customer Reviews

The darling buds of May: The Pop Larkin chronicles

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
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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.

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.

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.