# The Darling Buds of May

Canonical: https://www.bookquiver.com/he-bates/the-darling-buds-of-may/9780141029672

![The Darling Buds of May](https://quivercdn.com/covers/penguin/he-bates/the-darling-buds-of-may_978-01-4102-967-2.jpg?v=2026-04-23%2009%3A24%3A25)

- Book: [The Darling Buds of May](https://www.bookquiver.com/he-bates/the-darling-buds-of-may) ([The Darling Buds of May.md](https://www.bookquiver.com/he-bates/the-darling-buds-of-may.md))
- Authors: [H.E. Bates](https://www.bookquiver.com/he-bates)
- Publisher: Penguin
- ISBN: 978-01-4102-967-2
- Pages: 144
- Published: 2018-05-03
- Language: en_GB
- Binding: Softcover

## Description

'Home looks nice. Allus does though, don't it? Perfick' And so the Larkins - Pop, Ma, Mariette, Zinnia, Petunia, Primrose, Victoria and Montgomery - return from an outing for fish and chips and ice cream one May evening. There, amid the rustic charms of home, they discover a visitor: one Cedric Charlton, Her Majesty's inspector of taxes. Mr Charlton is visiting to find out why junk-dealer Pop hasn't paid his tax - but nothing's that simple at the Larkins. 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 hot, hot summer nights. In fact, soon Charley can't see any reason to return to the office at all . . .