Sun on the Lintel

Sun on the Lintel is a book about New Year resolutions and what happens to them. On New Year's Day Derek Tangye tells Jeannie, his wife, of his good resolutions for the coming year; no longer will he be bossed by Ambrose and Oliver (the mysterious cats described so beautifully in A Cat Affair ), nor by Penny and Fred, the donkeys. Another resolution is to clear out the papers in his massive teak cupboard. Clearing them out brings memories flooding back of the many friends who have stayed at Minack over the years, and come to love it - friends like A.P. Herbert, who once drafted an imaginary Act of Parliament to protect the menfolk of Britain from Jeannie's charms ... and Derek resolves to become a Gourmet cook ...

Derek Tangye enchantingly describes what happens to his resolutions. It is a book of humour and happiness; and yet, as he unfolds his story, Derek never allows himself to run away from reality. It is this honesty which has made his series, now known the world over as the Minack Chronicles , one of the major best-sellers of our times.

"The most enchanting thing about these books on the Cornish flower farm is that both Derek Tangye and his wife Jeannie are themselves completely enchanted with their way of life and this is communicated very forcefully to the reader." - Stella Frank, Sunday Times