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Three uplifting Christmas tales--"No Holly for Miss Quinn, Village Christmas," and "The Christmas Mouse"--are offered here in one enchanting volume. The English village of Fairacre is a vision of holiday joy, but celebrations of the season do not always go as expected.
A brand new Miss Read novel, set in the Cotswold village of Thrush Green at Christmas. The villagers of Thrush Green celebrate Christmas traditionally, in a way that has hardly changed over the generations. Children eagerly hang up their stockings, families go to church together and everyone enjoys the treats of the festive season. And when it snows as the carol singers make their way round the cottages on the green, it looks as if Christmas will be perfect this year. But not everything is as peaceful as it seems. Phyllida and Frank have their work cut out for them when they agree to take on the Nativity play - made all the more difficult by an outbreak of chicken pox. The indomitable Ella has lived in Thrush Green for as long as anyone can remember, but lately she has been behaving strangely. Then there are the dreadful Burwells, newcomers to Thrush Green, who cause something of a stir with their 'home improvements'. For Nelly, owner of The Fuchsia Bush tea shop, Christmas is an especially busy time, with people dropping in for much-needed refreshment, weary from all their Christmas shopping. But then she receives an unexpected letter.
Miss Read circles the seasons of village life in the English countryside. "This magical blend of nostalgia and country life has wooed her readers for an astonishing forty years".--Times Educational Supplement. Miss Read's books have sold more than 3 million copies. 21 line drawings.
Set in Caxley, the quiet country town neighboring the village of Fairacre, The Caxley Chronicles follow two intertwined families, the Howards and the Norths, through the tumultuous first half of the twentieth century. The first Caxley tale, The Market Square, introduces the deep-rooted camaraderie of Septimus Howard and Bender North, whose friendship survives misunderstandings, the tragedy of war, and the bitterness of loss. The story of their families continues through the generations. The second tale, The Howards of Caxley, tells of Edward Howard, grandson to them both. Edward flies for the Royal Air Force Reserve as England prepares for another war -- and Caxley braces itself for overwhelming changes.
Big changes are afoot in a small English village— “If you’ve ever enjoyed a visit to Mitford, you’ll relish a visit to Fairacre” (Jan Karon, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of To Be Where You Are). Trouble brews in the tiny country village of Fairacre, when it is discovered that Farmer Miller’s Hundred Acre Field is slated for real estate development. Alarming rumors are circulating, among them the fear that the village school may close. The endearing schoolmistress Miss Read brings her inimitable blend of affection and clear-sighted candor to this report, in which a young girl finds her first love, an older woman accepts a new role in life, and the impassioned battle to save the village from being engulfed is at the forefront of every villager’s mind. “Wise, ironic, kindly, full of atmosphere and characters, rural charm, broad dialects, and the impishness of children.” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Affectionate, humorous, and gently charming . . . Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, always appealing.” —The New York Times
Throughout her years as schoolmistress, Miss Read has gathered excellent accounts of the rich and varied history of her beloved country village, often through neighborly conversation over the gate. Fairacre has garnered its share of odd incidents, entertaining episodes, and village folklore, from an unusual recipe for weight loss found in an old notebook -- and used with alarming consequences -- to the tragic story of the village ghost. With characteristic grace and vigor, Miss Read retells many treasured stories of Fairacre past and present.
An enchanting true story about a cat who came to stay by the bestselling author of the Fairacre series. 'Never again,' they said, when their beloved cat was run down on the busy road near the cottage where they lived. But they hadn't reckoned on Tiggy. A stray cat fiercely protective of her kittens, Tiggy was soon befriended by Miss Read - although it took some time before Tiggy allowed her kittens to go anywhere near the house. Written with the charm that made Miss Read a bestseller, this delightful book tells how a small stray cat, struggling to look after her kittens, won a home, a hearth and a name from the author and her husband. Tiggy's resourcefulness, perseverance and indomitable spirit are beautifully observed, and Miss Read's affectionate admiration of the newcomer will touch the hearts of cat lovers everywhere.
