Non-Fiction Books

Miss Read, whose real name is Dora Jessie Saint, has been producing these delightful novels of English village life since 1956.This cookbook is illustrated with more than 100 charming drawings and is noteworthy for the variety of its recipes. American equivalents of English measures are given.

Early A Fortunate Grandchild; Time Remembered Miss Read and Crowe, Derek

Early A Fortunate Grandchild; Time Remembered Miss Read and Crowe, Derek

Profiles some of the outstanding English gardeners of the last two centuries, and describes their churchyard gardens in great detail. 300 photos.

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 Chelsfield, Kent, into a magical new world - and so began her love of the English countryside which was to have such a strong influence on her career as a writer. Her evocative descriptions of the village school, the joys of exploring the woods and lanes rich in wildlife and of childhood events, from toffee-making to the treat of a lift on the corn-chandler''s cart, vividly convey this time as one of the happiest of her life.

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'I collect stones with holes in them'.Miss Read captures the essence of rural life, and in particular of village schools, as only she can. This collection also includes extracts from her'Michael Joseph wrote after the Observer thing and is throwing out feelers for a book. I shall know if he still feels like it - me too! - after we've met'.It will also include an Introduction on how 'Miss Read' was first'Miss Read was born fully clothed in sensible garments and aged about forty. She was born, in fact, when I was struggling to write my first book and needed a village schoolmistress as the narrator.'