Archers book recommendations please

[TallGiraffe]

So after 10 years of me mentioning TA in conversation, my sister has finally decided to start listening. And she's hooked

But she's struggling a bit with who is who and how they all connect. So what book can I get her to celebrate her conversion/ sort out Ambridge for her?

Plenty on Amazon
try this

I had a who's who one Christmas but it didn't go back far, it was more of a 'what's happened this year' sort of thing.

Tsk. There is no easy way to get your PhD in Archerology - it requires years of dedication and study.

Meanwhile, wiki is your friend - family trees - but it's not as nice as a book! DH has bought me two in the past: one is 'The Official Inside Story' by VW and the other is 'Heritage of Ambridge' by Lynda (both v. old and v. out of date)

I've picked up a couple of lovely old Archers books in the Oxfam book shop near us, although they are more past stories than family trees,its worth s look

Just tell her to post her questions on mumsnet; there are loads of experts who can remember the details from the last 50 years at least.

[I can remember a few bits from 50 years ago, and quite a lot from the last 15, but there is a yawning gap between]

Thanks everyone! It was a long term overview that I was after but it sounds like it might not exist. Shall just have to convert her to MN too

My DH could do with a book too and he's been listening to The Archers for 20+ years. He blames it on not being able to put faces to people.

Maybe we should write one - The MN guide to the Archers!

'Who's Who in the Archers' is a very good basic guide.

However, if your sis plans to go the whole hog and wants to revel in the joy of hating all the characters like us old hands do take a more, ahem, satirical view of the characters, then I highly recommend 'The Archers Anarchists' Ambridge Jubilee, 50 Years of a Medieval Village'.

This will explain exactly why Caroline is known in some circles as The Village Bike, why Shula is a double murderess, and why members of so many Ambridge families seem to have wildly differing accents, despite all being born and bred in one small village which they rarely, if ever, leave.

I often dip into its pages for amusement

Archers Addicts do a fun family tree mug, and the BBC website has a good "who's who" section.