Herbert Jenkins (1) (1876–1923)

A series of humorous episodes concerning a nagging housewife and her long-suffering husband. In the central and longest episode in which Mrs.Bindle complains bitterly that Bindle never takes her on holiday,they go to a Summer Camp for Tired Workers. This is organized by an amiable but inept Bishop and takes place deep in the country. What with bell-tents that will not stay up,flea infested bedding and no facilities at all,this turns out to be less than popular with Mrs.B. The cheery Mr.B is show more attacked verbally throughout the book for very little reason by his aggressive wife. Similar in many ways to Mrs.Caudle's Curtain Lectures and Mrs. 'Arris, it is quite funny on the whole but the humour does get a little strained as the book goes on. show less

Joseph Bindle is a easy-going and jokey character,married to a religious and hard-working wife. In the course of these stories Bindle shows a sometimes annoying propensity to play practical jokes on all and sundry. This to the modern reader can be rather off-putting. He also shows a big heart under all this light-hearted banter.
We see him at his work as a furniture remover and at home with the severe Mrs Bindle. On the whole this as well as others in the series are remarkably readable after show more 70 years or more. show less

My Dad got this as a birthday present from his sister in 1952. How popular it was. This copy is of the 25th printing, completing 373,711 copies. I am sure he never read it and I don't intend to. Cheeky, cheerful dustjacket, however.

Some funny episodes scattered about.