Miss Read has been a favorite author for years, beginning almost 50 years ago. I have been wanting to get a Miss Read book again, and could not find it in our libraries, so my dear daughter found it on Amazon. In fact, she found a dozen, so I’m happily reading them again.

Dora Saint is the author under the pseudonym of Miss Read, who in real life is also a teacher in town and rural schools in England. Saint books are sweet and gentle, but also show all the problems found in schools and villages. “Village Affairs” reveals life in the picturesque village of Fairacre. As a teacher in this small school, she finds her share of problems. The village rumor is… due to small enrollment, it may be incorporated into a city school. Then to make matters worse, she loses her infants classroom teacher.

Mrs. Pringle is the school janitor, she is cranky, overweight, with a bad leg, made worse by Doc Martin putting her on a diet. So, in comes Minnie Pringle, her scatterbrained niece, who is no better, with her tangled matrimonial affairs and hair-raising method of dealing with housework. There is Jospeh Coggs, a sweet boy caring for his little sisters, who are a concern for the whole village. Arther Coggs, the father, is the village lay about, drunk and wife beater. We meet Miss Read’s strong minded college friend Amy and her niece Vanessa who finally marries a man her own age and quite acceptable to all.

In “Villag Affairs” and other Miss Read books you’ll enjoy the Partridge, the vicar and his wife, the ornithologist Mr. Mauve, Mr. Willet the church sexton and village handyman.

All the characters are quirky and most delightful. Other books in Miss Read’s Fairacre series include “Village School,” “Village Diary,” and “Storm in the Village.” There is also a series of Thrash Creek books, which include “The White Robin,” that is a favorite of many readers.

Accolades for Miss Read are many. Jan Karou, author of “The Mitford Books” is a huge fan.

“I’d say Miss Read is for the ladies, except that I have enjoyed her writing for years,” Victor F. Hoss.

“A delightful picture of people and their problems and joys they share. The characters, the school children and their antics will become a delightful part of your life,” Christian Herald.

The English, their love of flowers, birds, their leafy tree lined lanes, make you long to live in Miss Read’s place and time. I’ve found since locating Miss Read books, others are doing the same. I have seen many, many Facebook posts wanting to know where to find them. I’ve found them on Amazon, World of Books and ABE. They are used books, very reasonably priced.