Xandra Bingley rode and trained ponies before she started work at seventeen for MI5. She travelled extensively before returning to London to join Ian Hamilton's New Review, and became a publisher's reader and then a commissioning editor at Jonathan Cape. She wrote regular profiles of writers for Tatler before she started her own literary agency. She has a son and a daughter and a grandson, and has lived by Primrose Hill for thirty-five years. This is her first book.

‘There is nothing usual about Bingley's story or her way of telling it. It is full of bright colours like a child's paintbox. This is her first book…but it instantly takes its place beside country classics.’ John Carey, Sunday Times‘This is a book so alive that when you finish it you feel that you have been there and met the people…[The] book has immense charm, and also a resonance that is beyond charm.’ Diana Athill, Guardian‘You would need to have lost touch with all feeling not to be moved to tears by the book's final chapter.’ Peter Parker, Telegraph‘“Bertie, May and Mrs Fish” is an instant English classic…a runaway pleasure to read.’ Ali Smith‘Utterly enchanting, and quite unputdownable.’ Jilly Cooper

Xandra Bingley rode and trained ponies before she started work at seventeen for MI5. She travelled extensively before returning to London to join Ian Hamilton's New Review, and became a publisher's reader and then a commissioning editor at Jonathan Cape. She wrote regular profiles of writers for Tatler before she started her own literary agency. She has a son and a daughter and a grandson, and has lived by Primrose Hill for thirty-five years. This is her first book.

‘There is nothing usual about Bingley's story or her way of telling it. It is full of bright colours like a child's paintbox. This is her first book…but it instantly takes its place beside country classics.’ John Carey, Sunday Times‘This is a book so alive that when you finish it you feel that you have been there and met the people…[The] book has immense charm, and also a resonance that is beyond charm.’ Diana Athill, Guardian‘You would need to have lost touch with all feeling not to be moved to tears by the book's final chapter.’ Peter Parker, Telegraph‘“Bertie, May and Mrs Fish” is an instant English classic…a runaway pleasure to read.’ Ali Smith‘Utterly enchanting, and quite unputdownable.’ Jilly Cooper