H. E. Bates

H. E. Bates's first short story collection published in 1928 when he was just 23, depicts the rural lives of quirky characters cast in his distinctive, beautifully drawn style. Each story has a youthful quality, intimate and often profound, perfectly demonstrating the progression of this masterful wordsmith. Bates explores bittersweet young love in 'The Birthday', the delightful reflections of a man spellbound by the sounds of the sea and the breathing...

Stories about children are not always for children. Here, Bates masterfully depicts a childhood which, by proxy, reveals the mystifying world of the adult. Through a series of short, lyrical stories, the complexities of the world are seen with crystalline purity through the eyes of children. We experience the joyous and painful clarity of youth, full of fears, hopes and make-believe, and the trust and mistrust of the adult world. A little boy, charmed...

This new, 1950s-set adaptation of the classic novel 'The Darling Buds of May' captures the warmth, optimism, and escapism of the Larkin family for a modern generation.

Two women pursue a handsome bachelor at a luxurious lakeside resort.

Sweet but lonesome Olof lives by himself on his family's farm after the death of his mother. Unable to read or write, he is forced to take people on trust. Olof must depend upon his younger friend Erik to help him with the farm work. Then one day, out of the blue, Olof places a personal ad in the paper. The ad attracks Ellen, a beautiful well-heeled city woman. Erik, also taken with Ellen, is determined to destroy her blossoming romance with Olof...