Description
Book Synopsis''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 . . .
Trade ReviewA 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 *
