Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Note on the Text xxiv

Further Reading xxv

A Chronology of Flora Thompson xxvii

Lark Rise

I Poor People's Houses 3

II A Hamlet Childhood 20

III Men Afield 35

IV At the 'Wagon and Horses' 53

V Survivals 65

VI The Besieged Generation 87

VII Callers 109

VIII 'The Box' 124

IX Country Playtime 134

X Daughters of the Hamlet 148

XI School 167

XII Her Majesty's Inspector 183

XIII May Day 196

XIV To Church on Sunday 205

XV Harvest Home 226

Over To Candleford

XVI As They Were 247

XVII Hamlet Home 259

XVIII 'Once Upon a Time' 272

XIX 'A Bit of a Tell' 280

XX Mrs. Herring 294

XXI Over to Candleford 302

XXII Kind Friends and Relations 315

XXIII Sink or Swim 323

XXIV Laura Looks On 333

XXV Summer Holiday 342

XXVI Uncle Tom's Queer Fish 361

XXVII Gandleford Green 370

XXVIII Growing Pains 382

XXIX Exit Laura 395

Candleford Green

XXX From One Small World to Another 401

XXXI On Her Majesty's Service 415

XXXII The Green 429

XXXIII Penny Reading 447

XXXIV Neighbours 462

XXXV At the Post Office 480

XXXVI 'Such is Life!' 495

XXXVII 'Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay!' 509

XXXVIII Letter-Carrier 522

XXXIX Change in the Village 542