Ghost of Artemus Strange

«

"Escape from the madness of life for a short while into the glorious eccentricity of Batch Magna once again, revel in its surroundings, its people, its comings and goings - which, often as bizarre as they are, usually work out for the best. Madcap schemes abound here, in this fifth book in the series, and the result is as greatly unpredictable as it is great fun. Wonderfully warm, gently witty, woefully wry and utterly, utterly compulsive."

»

«

"Christmas comes to Batch Hall, bringing an assortment of little stories that are added in like decorations on a Christmas tree. You can't leave one of them out because your tree will be incomplete then. If I had to guess at Peter Maughan's occupation, my bet would be on a weaver and I'll double down on that bet. Only a weaver a.k.a. master story teller can weave together, so magnificently, everything the stories in this chronicle encompasses."

»

«

"Batch Magna, straddling the border between England and Wales also straddles other borders. It’s a whimsical tale that would best be filmed by the old Ealing Studios of the 40’s and 50’s. The reader is never quite sure if this is a modern story or a vintage one. There are clues but never anything definitive. That allows it to poach from both past and present. [...] The jolly cast of characters, who truly are, in the best English sense, characters, provide humour and a bit of pathos. There are some lovely side stories such as a trip to London that does not turn out quite as expected and the bittersweet friendship between two aged folk whose lives have known great loss. This would be a great book to read sitting in an English garden on a summer’s day."

»