The Bagthorpe Saga by Helen Cresswell

[HumphreyCobblers]

I just bought Ordinary Jack to read aloud to my older two dc. I had forgotten how hilarious it was. I adored these as a child but on reading as an adult I realised that there was a lot of detail that went over my head. My own father was laughing as I read it to the kids. Grandma is an amazing character. I wish I could let my sarcasm go with the free rein showed by Mr Bagthorpe, he is brilliant. The recurring disastrous party theme is priceless.

I have also just realised that there are ten books in the series, I have only read three of them, so really looking forward to the next seven.

I’ll definitely look these up...I was vaguely aware of them as a kid, but I think I avoided her books because the TV adaptation of “Moondial” was so chuffing scary...

I loved those as a child. The one with the competitions where they take all the labels off the tins and have to do the tin shaking thing stands out in my memory!

I've got quite a few of them - my mother really enjoyed them, so I wasn't quite so keen, but I do remember the tin labels. I think it was a TV series at one point, too.

Oh I loved these books! The dog Zero was my favourite, and the hopeless uncle!

I love the Bagthorpe Saga!

Grandma, Daisy, and 'Arry 'Awk are hilarious. My favourite ones are when they go in for competitions & try to become self-sufficient. (Absolute Zero & Bagthorpes vs. The World)

I remember finding the first three or four very funny. It was about the fifth one I think that I found a bit less amusing, and I gave up after the sixth I think.

Yes, the tin shaking! They give each other points.

Also the sign on Mr Bagthorpes study door "Little children who come unto me suffer'

Really the best character is Mrs Fosdyke. Can't believe I didn't mention her in the OP.

I just bought Ordinary Jack to read to my 7yo, I can’t wait to give full rein to my inner Bagthorpe!!