Ladies of Letters New & Old - Tapa dura

"More Ladies of Letters provides us with an invaluable insight into the mindset of the contemporary British pensioner...It is not only an historical document, it is a fascinating glimpse into the private worlds of two extraordinarily ordinary English women." (Sue Townsend). Created by writers Carole Hayman and Lou Wakefield, Irene Spencer and Vera Small - aka "the ladies" - are happily widowed and live in a world of church fetes and amateur dramatics. After meeting at Irene's daughter Lesley's wedding reception, they become firm - sometimes too firm - friends and so begins their extraordinary correspondence first recorded in Ladies of Letters. In More Ladies of Letters we find Vera installed at Far Shores Trailer Park and Irene living the "high life" Down Under. In their constant missives to one another they share their ups and downs in true acerbic and forthright form - swapping family stories and subtle put-downs with ease and aplomb. Irresistible in its depiction of the foibles of female friendship, More Ladies of Letters is another sparkling collection of letters full of humour and vitriol in equal measure.

Born in Kent, Carole Hayman is well known as an actress, writer and theatre director. She is author of The Warfleet Chronicles and has also written for the Guardian, the Express, The Sunday Times, the Daily Mail and had a regular column in the Saturday Independent called "My Lofty Life". She devised and co-wrote The Refuge for Channel 4, and also created the BBC TV drama series Rides. Born and brought up in Leicester, Lou Wakefield is also a writer, director and actress. Highlights of her eclectic career include playing Jackie Woodstock in The Archers and TV appearances including Morse, The Bill and Casualty. She has directed Coronation Street and Brookside, and wrote the award-winning drama series Firm Friends for ITV.