H.E. BATES

Contemporary / British English (Available February 2008) Meet the Larkin family! They enjoy a wonderful country life, never worrying about money, work or the law. But then, one day, a man arrives from the tax office. Is the taxman going to change the Larkins lives? Or is his life going to change forever?

Audiolibro.

El narrador de esta novela, al que solo conocemos por el nombre de «señor Richardson» (a pesar de sus diecinueve años), vive en el pueblecito de Evensford, donde es reportero del periódico local. All

Take a perfick trip to France in the second book of this much-loved series, inspiration for the ITV drama THE LARKINS starring Bradley WalshI should like to go to France,said Ma.God Almighty,Pop said.What for?For a holiday of course,Ma said. I think it would do us all good to get some sun.And so at the end of a rainy English August the Larkins - all ten of them, including little Oscar, the familys new addition - bundle into the old Rolls and cross the Channel to escape the hostile elements.But far from being the balmy, sunny and perfick spot Ma Larkin hoped for, France proves less than welcoming to an eccentric English family. The teas weak, the furniture breakable and the hotel manager is almost as hostile as the wind and the rain theyve brought with them!And when the manager learns that Ma and Pop are unmarried yet sharing a room under his roof, the trouble really begins . . .

AS SEEN ON BBCS BETWEEN THE COVERSThirty years after The Darling Buds of May became one of the most popular comedy-dramas in ITV history, H.E. Batess novel is back in a brand new adaptation starring Bradley Walsh and Joanna ScanlanThe warmth and affection that H. E. Bates has generated through his books is so upliftingBradley Walsh________Home looks nice. Allus does though, dont it? PerfickOne pleasant May evening, Pop and Ma Larkin and their six children - sated on fish, chips and ice cream - return to the rustic charms of their Kent farm. Waiting for them is a young man: Mr Cedric Charlton, an upstanding inspector of taxes, come to discover why they havent paid any.Yet as junk-dealer Pop patiently explains: nothings ever 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 Dragons Blood, cold cream dribbled over a bowl of strawberries and the sweet song of nightingales.Will Cedric come to his senses?Or will he beat a hasty retreat to the office?________A pulsing comedy of country manners. A five-alarm blaze of a book. Just about perfickTIMEA gently, anarchic wish-fulfilling daydreamTHE TIMESWhat better comfort could there be from all we have endured this year than the rolling laughter and outsize hugs of Ma and Pop? Its going to be an honour to help bring The Larkins to the nations devices!Joanna Scanlan on her casting as Ma

Join the Larkins for another adventure in the much-loved series, inspiration for the new ITV drama starring Bradley WalshChristening? We never said nothing about no christening, Ma, did we?And so with the appearance of a letter announcing the imminent arrival of Madame Dupont, Pop and Ma Larkin learn that little Oscar and Blenheim - Charley and Mariettes new boy - are to be christened.In fact, once Mr Candy - who will be officiating (much to raven-haired Primroses delight) - learns that Pop and Ma have neglected the entire Larkin brood, the whole family seems set for a dunking!Pop, who needs no excuse to open a few bottles of Dragons Blood and host the perfick party, rushes out and buys a fun fair to celebrate.But there are one or two gatecrashers even Pop hadnt counted on turning up . . .

Join the Larkins for one last ride in the final instalment of the much-loved series, inspiration for the new ITV drama starring Bradley WalshTeetotal!Ma said.Its a libel. Hell never live it down. Hell never be able to hold his head up again. Whatever will people think? Whats he going to say when anybody asks him to have one?No,said Dr Conner.Youll have to strap him down,Ma said.Youll have to put the handcuffs on.And so after a mild heart-attack - caused by rather too much of what you fancy - Pop Larkin finds himself off the booze, off the good food and off the good life generally, much to his own and everyones elses horror and upset.And while Ma tries to find ways around doctors orders, young Primrose is finding her own way round a rather flustered - not to say flushed - Mr Candy . . .

Take a trip to Larkin country in the much-loved series, inspiration for the ITV drama THE LARKINS starring Bradley WalshThere!Pop said.Theres the house. Theres Gore Court for you. What about that, eh? Hows that strike you? Better than St Pauls, aint it, better than St Pauls?And so Pop Larkin - junk-dealer, family man and Dragons Blood connoisseur - manages to sell the nearby crumbling, tumbling country home to city dwellers Mr and Mrs Jerebohm for a pretty bundle of notes. Now he can build his daughter Mariette the pool shes long been nagging him for.But the Larkins new neighbours arent quite so accepting of country ways - especially Pops little eccentricities.In fact, its not long before a wobbly boat, a misplaced pair of hands and Mrs Jerebohms behind have Pop up before a magistrate . . .

El narrador de esta novela, el «señor Richardson» (a pesar de sus diecinueve años), vive en el pueblecito de Evensford, donde es reportero del periódico local. Allí se le encarga cubrir el regreso a