Flora Thompson's immortal trilogy, containing "Lark Rise", "Over To Candleford" and "Candleford Green", is a heartwarming portrayal of country life at the close of the 19th century. This story of three closely related Oxfordshire communities - a hamlet, the nearby village and a small market town - is based on the author's experiences during childhood and youth. It chronicles May Day celebrations and forgotten children's games, the daily lives of farmworkers and craftsmen, friends and relations - all painted with a gaiety and freshness of observation that make this trilogy an evocative and sensitive memorial to Victorian rural England.
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This gorgeous gift edition of the classic...will be treasured by a new generation of readers. (Family History Monthly )
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
About the Author
Born in Juniper Hill, Oxfordshire, Flora Thompson left school at 14 to work in the local post office. She married young, and wrote mass-market fiction to help support her increasing family. In her 60s she published the semi-autobiographical trilogy combined as LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD (1945). RICHARD MABEY is the author of some thirty books, including Whistling in the Dark: In Pursuit of the Nightingale, Beechcombings: the narratives of Trees, the ground-breaking and best-selling "cultural flora" Flora Britannica, and Gilbert White, which won the Whitbread Biography Award. His recent memoir Nature Cure was short-listed for three major literary awards. He writes for the Independent, the Guardian, Resurgence and Granta, and contributes frequently to BBC radio. He lives in Norfolk, in the Waveney Valley.
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The hamlet stood on a gentle rise in the flat, wheat-growing north-east corner of Oxfordshire. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The hamlet stood on a gentle rise in the flat, wheat-growing north-east corner of Oxfordshire. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
72 of 72 people found the following review helpful
By KitChat
Format:Hardcover
I first read this gem as a set book in school at around age 14, a London-born child educated in the City. The details of it never left me, 'Laura's' description of hamlet life in the 1880's were my benchmark for how poor honest country folk lived in those days, I could always refer to my recollections of the book, I was fascinated by the facts.
I finished re-reading it tonight, 37 years later and am still enchanted by the writer's simple and straightforward style and the vivid descriptions with such attention to detail. It's never fussy or sentimentalised, the reader comes to their own conclusion that material wealth isn't the secret to happiness, which is humbling when we compare today's standards with those of these simple people. Laura does well for herself, and the reader is glad for her but she never loses sight of who she is deep down.
I shall recommend that my young neice reads it, I doubt she'll enjoy it as I did but if only a little of the good natured common sense of the people is recognised that will be a good thing for a child brought up these days to know about. Am I really getting that old-fashioned?
43 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By G. Thulbourn
Format:Paperback
Life was hard in those days but it was beautiful: well it is nice to think it was anyhow.
A lovely book that wanders reminising through the author's childhood, told with the clarity as if it had all just happened yesterday. Captivatingly written and extremely evocative.
A 'must read' book: close your eyes and dream what English rural life used to be like.
Enjoy!
A lovely book that wanders reminising through the author's childhood, told with the clarity as if it had all just happened yesterday. Captivatingly written and extremely evocative.
A 'must read' book: close your eyes and dream what English rural life used to be like.
Enjoy!
90 of 91 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This is the beautiful tale of Flora Thompson's life from childhood to adolecence in Victorian Oxfordshire. In the book she changes place names and describes event from the character of "Laura". They live in a small hamlet, in a farming community; and the detail of the people and little day to day things is fascinating. The people she describes are so complete... and throughout she tells us so much of her thoughts, emotions and fears, that you feel as if you have met her yourself. From a social history point of view, her descriptions of festivals and rural life, are invaluble. This is a long book, and a little slow in parts, but it is rich and worth reading. You will really be drawn to her character, and feel her highs and lows. It's not as bouncy and amusing as "Cider with Rosie", but it is poignant for its bare honesty. You will wipe away a tear or two whilst reading it, and I promise you won't forget it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific
Brought as a gift, my friend thrilled.
Like most books made into film/tv productions - wise to read book in advance of viewing.
Like most books made into film/tv productions - wise to read book in advance of viewing.
Published 2 months ago by Heather MACKNEY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Different but just as enjoyable.
A really good insight into the country life of the Oxford - Northampton borders during 1880-1895 period. Read more
Published 2 months ago by G. E. Elston
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favourite book
This book has very little to do with the TV series that bears its name. It paints a picture of a world about to vanish, rural England and all the characters and life contained... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Katie Rainbow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rural dignity amidst poverty
The book is a work of art; the television series is a work of......no, Amazon would not permit the use of the word that springs to mind. Read more
Published on 14 April 2011 by NorthBrit
5.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable classic.
Such a fascinating read - and I don't like history! it is so interesting to read about how these people lived their lives. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2011 by Bones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Candleford fan
I read this book for "A level" back in the late seventies and thought it was a brilliant piece of work then. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2011 by J. E. Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
historical lives of simple folk.
I am half way through reading this book.
This is a simply written historical record of simple people.
A real joy to read. Read more
This is a simply written historical record of simple people.
A real joy to read. Read more
Published on 15 April 2010 by Sam Carew
5.0 out of 5 stars
LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD
A must for lovers of English literature. Flora Thompson follows on in the tradition of Jane Austen to describe life as it was in Olde England in the mid to late 1800s. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2009 by Ann Lockey
2.0 out of 5 stars
Larkrise to Candleford
My husband bought me this book as a present because we, as a family enjoy the T.V. series so much. I am disappointed with the book as, in many ways, it is nothing like the series. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2009 by Mrs. A. Barnbrook
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wealth of information
Having watched all of the TV series based on the book, I was keen to read it for myself. It is simply wonderful, full of images of a time we would now long for! Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2009 by P. Foster
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