Aunt Sass

Friends come in many guises. In these autobiographical stories, three characters - an eccentric great aunt, a Chinese cook and a foul-mouthed ex-jockey - assert a lifelong influence on the narrator, as she looks back over her childhood. Much like Mary Poppins, each comes into the child's life just when she needs them most. And each, however unlikely, becomes a friend and a champion to the young girl.

Charming, tender and moving, these stories, which were given to the author's friends as Christmas gifts, contain all the hallmarks you'd expect from such a magical writer. They are also fascinating for anybody who, after watching Saving Mr Banks, wants to find out more about Travers' early life. And best of all, you will meet the woman who was the inspiration for Mary Poppins.

Beautiful and charming.--The Independent (UK)

P. L. Travers (1899-1996) was born in Queensland, Australia. She worked as a secretary, a dancer and an actress, but writing was P. L. Travers's real love, and for many years she was a journalist. It was while recuperating from a serious illness that she wrote Mary Poppins - 'to while away the days, but also to put down something that had been in my mind for a long time', she said. She received an OBE in 1977.

Over seventy years ago, P. L. Travers wrote three stories which she gave as Christmas gifts to friends. Here, they are collected together for the first time. Friends come in many guises. In these autobiographical stories, three unconventional people - an irrascible but lovable great aunt, a Chinese cook and a foul-mouthed ex-jockey - assert a lifelong hold on the narrator as she looks back over her childhood. Each comes into the narrator's life just when she needs them most. And each, however unlikely, becomes a friend and champion to the young girl - especially Aunt Sass, the inspiration for Mary Poppins. Charming, funny and moving, these stories contain all the hallmarks you'd expect from this spellbinding writer. With a foreword by Victoria Coren Mitchell

Friends come in many guises. In these autobiographical stories, three characters - an eccentric great aunt, a Chinese cook and a foul-mouthed ex-jockey - assert a lifelong influence on the narrator, as she looks back over her childhood. Much like Mary Poppins, each comes into the child's life just when she needs them most. And each, however unlikely, becomes a friend and a champion to the young girl. Charming, tender and moving, these stories, which were given to the author's friends as Christmas gifts, contain all the hallmarks you'd expect from such a magical writer. They are also fascinating for anybody who, after watching Saving Mr Banks, wants to find out more about Travers' early life. And best of all, you will meet the woman who was the inspiration for Mary Poppins.

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