Tato série s humorem a nadsázkou vykresluje život na anglickém venkově očima rozvětvené rodiny. V centru dění stojí charismatický patriarcha, který svými svéráznými metodami řeší každodenní výzvy, od finančních potíží po rodinné vztahy. Příběhy jsou plné laskavého humoru, nečekaných zvratů a oslavou života na venkově.
Jak vyzrát na bledého mladíka z berňáku, který nesměle postává před rodinnou farmou a svědomitě se domáhá uhrazení dlužných daní za několik minulých let? Taťka Larkin, bodrý vládce tohoto úrodného ráje mimo dohled vyšší moci, si naštěstí ví rady jako už tolikrát! Dotěrného hosta je nejprve nutno udolat opulentními hody, poté mladíkovo odhodlání prověří smrtelné dávky koktejlů a vlídná slůvka, v ničem si nezadávající s pohostinností havajských domorodců. A zejména bude třeba vetřelce přesvědčit o výhodách trvalého pobytu v čarokrásném lůně kentské přírody, jež přece chápe každý, kdo sem zavítal. Kouzelně humorný příběh vypráví o tom, jak udat těhotnou dceru, snížit si základ daně a navrch si vydobýt uznání všech sousedů. Největší bestseller satirika britského venkova Herberta E. Batese hravě konkuruje mistrům ostrovního vtipu, jako jsou Jerome Klapka Jerome, Roald Dahl nebo James Herriot.
‘The Darling Buds of May, which came out in 1958, was the first of five Larkin novels and in it readers witness the transformation of Mr. Charlton from a undernourished and timid tax clerk to ‘Charlie’, a fully-converted member of the Larkin way of life: an easygoing celebration of nature, food, drink, and family. In the process, the reader is introduced to the Brigadier, Miss Pilchester, and Angela Snow. Setting the style for the series, the book ends with a grand celebration, and the announcement of the wedding of Charlie and Mariette. The novel was filmed with the title ‘The Mating Game’, and between 1991 and 1993, Yorkshire Television produced a highly-successful television series called ‘The Darling Buds of May’. This first book in the Larkin series was very successful, appearing first in the United States and then in Britain, where it sold 40,000 in the first two months. Many critics felt that Bates deserved better than to be remembered mostly for the Larkin novels, but they were very profitable. The immensely popular Larkin series of comic novels consisted of ‘The Darling Buds of May’, ‘A Breath of French Air’ (1959), ‘When the Green Woods Laugh’ (1960), ‘Oh! To Be in England’ (1963), and ‘A Little of What You Fancy’ (1970). Bates, speaking of how he was inspired to create the Larkins, recalled the real junkyard that he often passed near his home in Kent; and he remembered seeing a family -- a father, mother and many children, sucking at ice-creams and eating crisps in a "ramshackle lorry that had been recently painted a violent electric blue". He tried writing a brief tale based on the family, but soon decided that he couldn’t waste such a rich gallery of characters to a short story." Pop is a wonderful character who hates pomp, pretension and humbug; loves his family, but doesn’t hesitate to break a few rules... and his and the Larkins' secret is “that they live as many of us would like to live if only we had the guts and nerve to flout the conventions." See also the Pop Larkin Chronicles, which contains all five Larkin books.
'I should like to go to France,' said Ma. And so at the end of a rainy English
August the Larkins - all ten of them, bundle into the old Rolls and cross the
Channel. France proves less than welcoming to an eccentric English family.
When the manager learns that Ma and Pop are unmarried yet sharing a room under
his roof, the trouble really begins.
4 hrs.A year has passed, and in this third novel of the Pop Larkin series, Pop Larkin is preparing to build the bungalow he promised Charley and Mariette upon their engagement. He buys a country home slated for demolition, intending to convert it for the two, but it is not long before a London couple persuade him to sell it. Pop, ever the trickster, sells it for an extortionate price, as the two social climbers know little about country life. Party throwing and cocktail mixing abound until a rocky boat and a misplaced pair of hands have Pop before the local magistrate....
With a letter announcing the imminent arrival of Madame Dupont, Pop and Ma
Larkin learn that little Oscar and Blenheim - are to be christened. Pop, who
needs no excuse to open a few bottles and host the perfick party, rushes out
and buys a fun fair to celebrate. But there are one or two gatecrashers even
Pop hadn't counted on turning up.
'Teetotal!' Ma said. 'It's a libel. Whatever will people think? What's he
going to say when anybody asks him to have one?' No, said Dr Conner. And so
after a mild heart-attack - Pop Larkin finds himself off the booze. While Ma
tries to find ways around 'doctor's orders', young Primrose is finding her own
way round a flustered - Mr Candy.
