Flora Thompson's semi-autobiographical Lark Rise to Candleford trilogy is known and loved the world over for its gentle depiction of rural life in Oxfordshire in the late 19th century, a way of life that was soon to vanish forever as mechanisation took over farming. In the final book, Laura in her early teens moves to the village of Candleford Green, to work in the post office under the tutelage of her cousin Dorcas Lane, and grow into womanhood. She loves her work and enjoys interacting with the people around her but still pines for the open spaces and freedom of Lark Rise.

Flora Thompson's semi-autobiographical Lark Rise to Candleford trilogy is known and loved the world over for its gentle depiction of rural life in Oxfordshire in the late 19th century, a way of life that was soon to vanish forever as mechanisation took over farming. The second book sees an older Laura still growing up in Lark Rise, but branching out into the wider world and visiting her urbanite cousins in the small country town of Candleford, and contrasting her life with theirs.

Flora Thompson's semi-autobiographical Lark Rise to Candleford trilogy is known and loved the world over for its gentle depiction of rural life in Oxfordshire in the late 19th century, a way of life that was soon to vanish forever as mechanisation took over farming, and many of the villagers moved town-wards in such of a more prosperous future. The first volume describes Laura's childhood in Lark Rise, a small agricultural hamlet. It lovingly recalls the details of Flora's small world, its rituals, routines, hardships, pleasures, schooling, games, songs, fashions, local speech patterns and colourful characters, with astonishing lyricism and charm.

Flora Thompson was born in an Oxfordshire hamlet in 1876. She left school at 14 and went to work as a clerk in a small village post office until her marriage to John Thompson. She is perhaps best remembered for her semi-autobiographical trilogy which evokes, through childhood memories in the person of Laura, in a vanished world of agricultural customs and rural culture in England of the 1880s. Keith Dewhurst has adapted the trilogy into two plays "Lark Rise" which erects the first day of harvest from sunrise to sunset and, in contrast, "Candleford", which depicts a day in midwinter - to give a lively picture of typical country life of the period with music and songs. Commissioned by the National Theatre, the plays can be produced in a "promenade" style where audience and actors freely mix. With a flexible range of characters and a minimum of stage props, this play could be of value with amateur drama groups.

Lark Rise to Candleford captures a piece of social history in this ever popular fictional account of an English rural upbringing between the wars. Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition contains all three books - Lark Rise, Over to Candleford and Candleford Green with an introduction by Bill Gallagher, screenwriter of the hugely popular BBC television adaptation. Laura Timms spends her childhood in a country hamlet called Lark Rise. An intelligent and enquiring child, she is always attentive to the way of life around her - the lives of a farming community and nature as it transforms through the seasons, their working lives together and their celebrations. Whilst much is to be admired and cherished about her community, when she looks back on it as an adult she doesn't shy away from describing hardship too. Laura attends the village school and leaves at the age of fourteen to work for the postmistress of the village of Candleford. There her eyes are opened to wider horizons.

'People were poorer and had not the comforts, amusements, or knowledge we have today; but they were happier.' Lark Rise to Candleford is Flora Thompson's classic evocation of a vanished world of agricultural customs and rural culture. The trilogy of Lark Rise, Over to Candleford, and Candleford Green tells the story of Flora's childhood and youth during the 1880s in Lark Rise, in reality Juniper Hill, the hamlet in Oxfordshire where she was born. Through the eyes of Laura, the author's fictional counterpart, Flora describes the cottages, characters, and way of life of the agricultural labourers and their families with whom she grew up; seasonal celebrations, schooling, church-going, entertainment and story-telling are described in fond and documentary detail. Later, when Laura leaves school and becomes assistant to the village postmistress, the same loving detail brings vividly to life the rural post office and its staff. This edition of the trilogy reproduces the original wood-engravings by Julie Neild and includes a new introduction by Phillip Mallet which looks at the background to the books and their enduring popularity.

The story of three closely related Oxfordshire communities - a hamlet, the nearby village and a small market town - this immortal trilogy is based on Flora Thompson'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 the gaiety and freshness of observation that makes this a precise and endearing portrayal of country life at the end of the last century.