All might be radiant and perfick in the Kent countryside, but everyone needs a holiday now and again. With Mariette wilting under low spirits, and Ma growing weary of her newborn Oscar’s incessant demands for milk, Pa lets himself be convinced that they could really do with a trip to France. It does require persuasion, of course, because Pa finds it hard to believe that anywhere could be more lovely than home – but the one thing he loves more than home is his family, and he’s willing to do anything to make them happy. Encouraged by the enthusiastic Charley – who spent summers in Brittany as a child – Pa begins to pick up a few useful phrases of French, and the whole Larkin family piles into the Rolls and sets off for a spot of continental leisure...

For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2019/03/23/a-breath-of-french-air-h-e-bates/ ( )

Second in the Larkin series: the Larkins invade another middle-class monopoly by deciding to take a holiday in Brittany. Mlle Dupont of the Hotel "Beau Rivage" becomes convinced that Pop Larkin is an eccentric milord, and Angela Snow takes him to a très snob restaurant. ( )