The Pop Larkin Chronicles : The Darling Buds of May, A Breath of French Air, When the Green Woods Laugh, Oh! To Be in England, A Little of What You Fancy

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Bates goes on to cite the novels as reflective of the vast changes to the English countryside in the 1950s but, more significantly, he notes that "it is not to be denied, moreover, that there is something of myself in Pop Larkin: a passionate Englishman, a profound love of Nature, of the sounds and sights of the countryside, of colour, flowers and things sensual; a hatred of pomp, pretension and humbug; a lover of children and family life; an occasional breaker of rules, a flouter of conventions. Though this comedy was well written there was some light language and sex scenes (though not EXTREMELY detailed) so I would advise discretion with younger readers. He worked as a journalist and clerk on a local newspaper before publishing his first book, The Two Sisters, when he was twenty. Students learning the Bengali language have also valued the English/Bengali translations on every page.

Eccentric and good-humoured throughout, the story is really homage to the best of what it means to be English in the early 1950s, as the effects of the Second World War faded but before the advance of technology really began. The Pop Larkin Chronicles : The Darling Buds of May, A Breath of French Air, When the Green Woods Laugh, Oh! I enjoyed parts and there were some hilarious situations but overall the language and intimate descriptions left me wishing I had passed on this book. Past reviewer for Paste magazine, The Doughnut, E2D and United Airways and Lancashire Life magazine.

D K Powell is available to speak at events ( see his TEDx talk here) and can be contacted at dkpowell. This is the first volume of the Larkin series with a cast of carefree rustics (maybe they are not really rustics, perhaps they are crooks) who do exactly what they want, get their money (in large quantities) from doing nothing (or worse) and, whatever they do, seem to land on their feet.

They moved to the village of Little Chart in Kent and bought an old granary and this together with an acre of garden they converted into a home. Although I didn’t watch the series myself, I knew of it and my parents regular watched the show, so I often saw scenes as I came and went. Now known as “Charley,” our hapless hero floats along on a stream of unstinting alcohol and unending feasts. Mariette, to the unconcealed delight and satisfaction of Ma and Pop, bent and kissed Mr Charlton briefly, but with purpose, full on the lips.

His third book is ‘Try not to Laugh’ and is a guide to memorising, revising and passing exams for students. Best read in the midst of winter to remind you that golden summers and autumns will indeed come round again.