H. E. Bates

The Larkin family descends upon Brittany in France. Like fish out of water, they find that things don't quite turn out their way: the weather is less than ideal, the food is awful and the hotel is in a bad state of repair. But things slowly improve as Pop manages to sweet-talk Mlle Dupont.

When Cedric Charlton, an unsuspecting tax inspector, arrives at the door of the Pop Larkin farm, he soon forgets the purpose of his visit: the fun-loving Ma and Pop Larkin distract him at every turn with strawberries, cream, alcohol, and their attractive young daughter, Mariette.

Pop Larkin finds himself confined to a bed following a mild heart attack - caused by a little too much of what he fancied! Ma battles with the doctors as she attempts to find the adequate cure, but it turns out that a seductive nurse is all he needs.

It is 1940 and Elizabeth Cartwright finds her life turned upside-down by her growing friendship with a group of young fighter-pilots, engaged in the desperate struggle to protect England from Nazi invasion.

Ten-year-old Ned spends two long, hot summers with his great uncle Silas in the village of Souldrop. While Silas instructs his nephew in the ways of country life he finds plenty of time away from the beady eye of housekeeper Mrs Betts to indulge in his two great loves, women and home-made wine - the combination of which constantly lands him in hot water.

Pop Larkin has to deal with an influx of teddy boys who threaten to ruin the farm, and the family participate in a mass christening!

Pop Larkin is disappointed that his daughter and son-in-law haven’t yet made him a grandfather. He sees an opportunity of making a lot of money by selling a house he owns to unsuspecting townies but things don’t work out as he planned.