A nostalgic collection on rural schools, childhood and English country life from the much-loved author of VILLAGE SCHOOL.From organising the school summer fete...'Because of our inability to recognise our climatic shortcomings from the outset, arrangements for outdoor jollities get completely out of hand'....to the sometimes rather odd passions of childhood:'I collect stones with holes in them'.Miss Read captures the essence of rural...

Two novels following the intertwined lives of a pair of English families through the world wars, by the beloved author of the Fairacre series.Set in the quiet country town neighboring the village of Fairacre, The Caxley Chronicles follow two families, the Howards and the Norths, through the tumultuous first half of the twentieth century. The first novel, The Market Square, portrays the deep-rooted camaraderie of Septimus Howard and Bender North, wh...

Enchanting and affectionate stories of everyday country life in the idyllic Thrush Green.'There is something profoundly consoling about a novel by Miss Read' The LadyContains: THRUSH GREEN, WINTER IN THRUSH GREEN, NEWS FROM THRUSH GREEN, BATTLES AT THRUSH GREEN, RETURN TO THRUSH GREEN, GOSSIP FROM THRUSH GREEN, AFFAIRS AT THRUSH GREEN, AT HOME IN THRUSH GREEN, THE SCHOOL AT THRUSH GREEN, FRIENDS AT THRUSH GREEN, CELEBRATIONS AT THRUSH GREEN, THE YE...

Another delightful Fairacre novel from the bestselling author Miss Read'No matter how devoted, dedicated, conscientious and altogether noble a teacher is, I feel pretty sure that each and everyone feels the same sense of freedom and relief from her chains when the end of term arrives...'So it is for Miss Read - but on the very first day of the long summer holiday she falls and breaks her arm. Instantly, all her plans for the holidays are in tatters....

The third novel in the bestselling Thrush Green series.There are new people on the Green...When old Admiral Trigg and his sister Lucy died, their house - Tullivers - stood empty for many months. Then one bright April day, some discreet onlookers saw a good-looking woman pushing her way through the nettles to the front door.Who was she? Was she on her own? Had she bought the house, and, if so, what kind of a neighbour would she be? These were just so...

The enchanting childhood memoirs of bestselling author Miss Read.Miss Read's early days were spent with two remarkable grandmothers - one in Lewisham and one in Walton-on-the-Naze. EARLY DAYS is full of childhood memories of an extended family of uncles, aunts and cousins and their houses full of mystery and adventure, where Miss Read spent so much time, living in the shadow of the First World War.At the age of seven, Miss Read moved to the small village of...

There's no pleasing Mrs. Pringle—and everyone in Fairacre knows it. "Miss Read's novels are sheer delight" ( Chicago Tribune).Miss Read is certain of one thing—she won't be forced to hire grumpy Mrs. Pringle to straighten up her house. Mrs. Pringle of Fairacre chronicles the life of the beloved but curmudgeonly school cleaner through the stories of her fellow villagers. Readers will delight in the quirks of this favorite character, from the "flare...

The first novel in the bestselling Thrush Green series.It's the May Day holiday, and a fair has come to the village of Thrush Green.The residents of Thrush Green all have their own views about the fair. For young Paul, just recovered from an illness, it is a joy to be allowed out to play at the fair; for Ruth, who returned to the soothing tranquillity of Thrush Green nursing a broken heart, the fair is a welcome distraction from her own problems. And for Dr...

A delightfully nostalgic Christmas collection of Fairacre tales from the ever-popular Miss Read.The people of Fairacre celebrate Christmas in a traditional style which has hardly changed over the generations. Children eagerly hang up their stockings, families go to church together and everyone enjoys Christmas cake and other treats of the festive season.From an unexpected visitor on Christmas Eve in 'The Christmas Mouse' to an unwanted change of plan in 'No...

A heart-warming tale of an unexpected Christmas visitor...Taken from CHRISTMAS AT FAIRACRE, a delightfully nostalgic festive tale from the ever-popular Miss Read.The last few years have been very difficult for Mrs Berry, her widowed daughter and two grandchildren. But with Christmas almost upon them, Mrs Berry hopes the festive season will work its magic and life will begin to improve for everyone.The last thing Mrs Berry anticipates are two unexpec...

Nothing can be kept secret for long in Thrush Green...For many years, Dorothy Watson and Agnes Fogerty have taught in the school at Thrush Green, so their imminent retirement provokes rumour and speculation. Who will take Miss Watson's place as head teacher? As for replacing little Miss Fogerty, it seems impossible to imagine.There are other issues too. Will Winnie Bailey's eccentric nephew move into the schoolhouse? Who is the strange young man lurking out...

A row of cottages comes up for sale in Fairacre - although with less than desirable tenants at either end, who could possibly want to buy it?Miss Read heard about the sale of Tyler's Row from the always well-informed Mrs Pringle - and before long, Fairacre was alive with rumours. Why were the present owners selling? Was it true that a football pools winner was about to buy it? Had Tyler's Row been condemned - or was it to be restored?All rumours are soon la...