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 the sweet song of nightingales.

Yet as junk-dealer Pop patiently explains: nothing's ever that simple at the Larkins'. Waiting for them is a young man: Mr Cedric Charlton, an upstanding inspector of taxes, come to discover why they haven't paid any. Allus does though, don't it? Perfick' One 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. Bates has generated through his books is so uplifting' Bradley Walsh _ 'Home looks nice. Bates's novel is back in a brand new adaptation starring Bradley Walsh and Joanna Scanlan 'The warmth and affection that H. He died in 1974.AS SEEN ON BBC'S BETWEEN THE COVERS Thirty years after The Darling Buds of May became one of the most popular comedy-dramas in ITV history, H.E. In 1973, Bates was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). His most popular creation was the effervescent Larkin family, about whom he wrote five novels, including The Darling Buds of May. Bates published his first novel, The Two Sisters, when he was twenty. Bates was born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1905. Just about perfick.' - Time 'A gently, anarchic wish-fulfilling daydream.' - The Times (London)Ībout the Author H. Now, if the Larkins and country living can charm Charlton, perhaps he will forget about every last pound they owe. But Charlton's plans hit a snag when the eldest Larkin daughter, Mariette, takes a liking to him-and he to her.

Cedric Charlton from Inland Revenue has come to inquire why the Larkins failed to file income tax for the previous year. All of that could change, however, when a stranger appears on their farm. While the family may not seem to have much, they more than make up for it in joyous spirit-and bountiful feasts. Pop works as a junk dealer and keeps the farm to feed his brood, while Ma cooks the meals and minds the children. Beneath the sunny, cloudless skies of Kent, the Larkin household-Pop, Ma, and their six children-enjoy the simple pleasures of life. The rich spirit of an English junk dealer and his family is challenged by the arrival of the tax collector in this humorous and heartwarming classic.

The darling buds of may by he bates