A Collection of Novels from H. E. Bates

A collection of eight volumes of fiction from British writer Herbert Ernes Bates. Eight volumes. First edition. Written by Herbert Ernest Bates, a British writer, known for his gritty realistic short stories and novels. This set contains: Fair Stood the Wind for France, 1944. Following the story of John Franklin, the pilot of a Wellington bomber, who badly injures his arm when he crash-lands in German-occupied France during the Second World War. The Cruise of the Breadwinner, 1946. Set on board the Breadwinner, an old battered fishing boat, contributing to the war effort by carrying out a routine patrol of a particular stretch of coast in the English Channel, this novel follows a young boy who has volunteered to help patrol. Dear Life, 1950. A short novel of adolescent delinquency, telling the story of the murder of a young woman, and with it the ruin of a generation. Love for Lydia, 1952. A semi-autobiographical novel set in the fictional town of Evensford, following Lydia Aspen, a seemingly shy girl from a wealthy but isolated background. A Breath of French Air, 1959. A sequel to the popular novel 'The Darling Buds of May', that follows the Larkins, a rural family from Kent, on a holiday to France. A Crown of Wild Myrtle, 1962. Set on a small Greek island at the height of summer, an Englishman travelling alone meets Ruth Forbes and her elderly travel companion Mrs Keller. Oh! To Be in England, 1963. The fourth novel in the Pop Larkin series. Pop and Ma, having never bothered to get married, now discover that their seven children are without benefit of clergy. The Distant Horns of Summer, 1967. A tragic study in the betrayal of innocence, detailing the story of a young boy left in the charge of a sixteen year old girl while his parents go on holiday. In the original full cloth binding. Externally, smart with minor rubbing and bumping to the extremities and the odd small mark to the boards. Original dust wrappers are unclipped other than Dear Life, Love for Lydia, A Crown of Wild Myrtle, and Oh! To Be in England which have been price-clipped. Wrappers are sound with light wear and chipping to the extremities resulting in light loss. With sunning to the spines and the odd small closed tear to the panel edges. Light loss to Fair Stood the Wind for France, The Cruise of the Breadwinner, and Dear Life with large closed tears to the wrapper of Love for Lydia. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with the odd small spot. Light age toning to the endpapers with contemporary ink inscriptions to the odd front endpaper. Very Good.…