The Darling Buds of May
Ratings4
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings4
Average rating4.1
The first of the Larkin novels, first published in 1958, this short comic novel introduced the Larkin family to an unsuspecting world. Here Pop, Ma, Mariette and the children beguile Charley, a timid and naive tax inspector into abandoning his investigations to take up residence at their rural paradise in Kent.
Series
5 primary booksThe Pop Larkin Chronicles is a 5-book series with 5 primary works first released in 1958 with contributions by H.E. Bates.
Reviews with the most likes.
I always include major spoilers (hidden), to help with my memory issues. Read them at your peril!
The merry Larkin family come home to their idyllic little farm to find a man from the tax office waiting to pursue their failure to send a tax return. They distract him with food, drink and their beautiful daughter . The story covers about 3 weeks in May-June, culminating ina lively gymkhana on the Larkin's meadow. At the end, the tax man is engaged to the daughter, Ma Larkin is expecting a 7th child, and briefly considers getting married to Pa Larkin, but they decide against it . The skies are always blue, the setting is pastoral perfection, the plentiful food is “perfick”. Written and set in 1950's England when a huge social upheaval had taken place following world war 2. The enterprising Larkins are thriving, but the gentry are poor, and mostly not coping without the servants that they were accustomed to - but not in a sad way. Nothing is sad in this book. The ultimate in cosy reading.
