‘Easy reading’ is not an insult, although Thackeray took it as such. Complimented on having produced ‘such easy reading’, he retorted that easy reading ‘means damned hard writing’.

I learnt this among many gems in Mrs Griffin Sends Her Love, a collection of previously unpublished essays and articles by Miss Read. Or, strictly speaking, by Dora Saint, because they were written before she adopted her penname.

The writing is an evocative ticket back to the 1950s and 60s: delightful tales of country life, which will stir memories in those old enough to remember and charm those young enough not to have those memories. Many of the articles relate to Dora Saint’s time as a supply teacher, offering portraits of her pupils; the perils of the sickroom, the lucky hole in the wall where grown-ups would leave a sweet for a passing child to find; the luxury of telling the children a story on a lazy hot afternoon rather than actually teaching; and discovering what ‘pea tea’ was.

Other articles are musings on everyday life, such as the acquisition of knowledge by reading the entry in the encyclopaedia next to the one that you are actually looking up. Also, the joys of village life at a time when you barely had to go to the shops, because all the main tradesmen came to you: the butcher, the backer, the fishmonger and the greengrocer on their weekly (or more than weekly) rounds.

Dora Saint was in Witney during the Second World War, and indeed the spacious green there became the basis of her Thrush Green series.

Newbury became her home for the last part of her life, and inspired some of her articles, including one about a wager that a coat could be made from shearing to wearing ‘between sunrise and sunset on a summer’s day’. A Newbury local clothing manufacturer made 1,000 guineas one June day in 1811 by creating a coat in 13 hours 20 minutes from sheep to wearer.

Anyone who takes pleasure in tales of times past, and the interesting trivia that make up everyday life will revel in this book. It’s a delight from start to finish.

And the fact that it’s easy reading should definitely be taken as a compliment.